7 Prayer Points to Revitalise Your Spiritual Life (Part 2)

Without further ado, I’ll just launch into the second part of my post shared yesterday. If you missed Part 1 of this message, you may access it here.

• Engage the Help of the Holy Spirit and Use Your God-Given Authority!

Do you have what seems like an insurmountable problem in your life? Is there a recurring issue that has been troubling you for longer than you care to admit? These are what the Bible refers to as “mountains”. Maybe your problem is that you are trying to scale, or climb over them in your own strength. BIG MISTAKE! In Mark 11:22-23, Jesus says that we are to speak to them! So, adopt the same attitude as Zerubbabel (see Zechariah 4:6-7) and speak words of faith (i.e., scripture) to your mountains.

Don’t know what to do, or how to pray about an issue? Then ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Invite the Holy Spirit to strengthen you internally, so that you have the necessary resilience to go the distance. Ask him to give you wisdom and to help you pray appropriately and effectively, then turn the matter over to the Holy Spirit, allowing him to pray with, for, and through you, using your spiritual prayer language. I can assure you from personal experience that 10-15mins praying in tongues, yields better results (i.e. quicker breakthroughs) than hours of agonising in your native tongue.

• Pray for Others

Don’t subscribe to the me-myself-and-mine philosophy. Have a generous heart and demonstrate concern and compassion for others. Jesus modelled this whilst here on this earth and even now, after all he has done to secure our salvation, he is still engaged in intercession for us.

The New Testament has many prayers that the apostle Paul prayed for fellow believers, which we can use in our own prayer life to support other Christians. And, in Colossians 4:12, one of Paul’s helpers, Epaphras, is brought to our attention as someone who was “always labouring fervently” in prayer for his brothers and sisters in Christ.

As someone who values prayer highly and considers it to be the most precious gift of time that anyone could bless me with, I’d be thrilled to know that there’s an “Epaphras” somewhere out there amongst my acquaintances, wouldn’t you?

• Embark on a love journey with Jesus

How would you feel if the only time your family members, friends or significant other contacted you, was when they wanted something?

Jesus is looking for a bride for himself and accordingly seeks to woo you into a loving, committed relationship.

Are you too busy, working for Him? Or too self-absorbed by your own life, to care about Jesus’ desires?

Perhaps you have focused your prayer life on relating solely to Father-God. Why not bring some spiritual romance into your devotional life and pursue a love relationship with His Son, Jesus?

Be like the Shulamite woman in Song of Solomon and respond to his affectionate attentions. Listen out for His gentle knocking upon the door of your heart. Open without reservation, allow him to come in and bless you from his banqueting table of love.

Enable this lover of your soul, to sing songs of deliverance over you, to soothe and tenderise your heart with his attentions. Submit yourself to him so he may transform you from a tortured or complacent individual to a contented, spirit-kissed soul. Then you will be able to join in with the chorus of those who passionately yearn, seek out and discover the fragrance of his abiding presence.

I sleep, but my heart is awake;

It is the voice of my beloved!

He knocks, saying

“Open for me, my sister, my love,

My dove, my perfect one […]

(Song of Solomon 5:2 (NKJV)

• “Pray” is a verb – so do it!

“I don’t know what to say!”

Do you give this as your reason for not praying? Then let’s explore this further.

Is this because you are intimidated by who God is? Or is this because you feel you need to have a certain type of language to speak to him? Or is it because you really don’t want to, and this serves as a useful excuse?

I was brought up in a family where children were to be seen but not heard. We were not allowed to watch TV in case we were corrupted by what was being shown. I was therefore unable to communicate with other children about Popeye, or other characters of children shows, because I’d not seen them. I grew up feeling awkward and strange, not used to articulating my opinions or feelings.

By the time I became an adult, I had to learn how to make general conversation with people outside of my immediate family. I’d agonise about whether I was interesting, or intelligent, or saying things in the right way.  I learned how to keep a conversation going simply by listening to the general chit-chat of work colleagues.

If you really don’t know how to pray, get with someone who does. And if you don’t know anyone or are too shy to ask, listen to those online who do pray and even offer a prayer ministry to others. Grace for Purpose is one such ministry that I highly recommend. Check them out on YouTube. I include a short video below for those interested.

For further assistance, read your Bible and read books on prayer. My own book, Petitions From My Heart, (see purchasing details below), offers you a prayer chart and gives you a whole range of ready-made prayers you can use. In this age of information technology and global reach, there is simply no justifiable excuse.

Finally, ask the Holy Spirit to teach you. He is right there within you and his assignment is to come alongside you and help.

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To those who stuck with me through both parts of this blog post, I thank you for your patience and for blessing me with your time and attention. And to those who have a true desire to upgrade their prayer lives, may God use these two posts to convict, challenge or inspire you.

Wishing you a tremendously blessed year of spiritual growth, victory, and peace!

With love,

Carol E. Hind – Author/Blogger/Prayer Advocate

The effectual, fervent prayer avails much!

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Dear reader, your visit is appreciated. Would you be so kind as to share your response to this post in a comment box below? And if you know anyone who could benefit from its message, please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

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Are you looking for a resource that will help you to draw closer to God and develop a consistent and confident prayer life? Then please don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

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7 Prayer Points to Revitalise Your Spiritual Life (Part 1)

Greetings my dear friends, fellow-bloggers, and followers!

I wish you a tremendously blessed year of spiritual growth, victory, and peace!

I’m interested in your prayer life.

Why?

Because I agree with Charles Spurgeon, an eminent man of God, who said:

Prayer is the vessel that trades with heaven and comes home from the celestial country laden with treasures of far greater worth than [any] Spanish galleon brought from the land of gold.

Isn’t that a beautiful picture? Does it not elevate the perception of prayer as a boring, dry, or dutiful exercise?

As ‘born-again’ believers, God invites us to trade our anxieties for his supernatural peace. In Isaiah 55, He invites us to buy wine (intoxicating joy) and milk (spiritual sustenance) without price and encourages us to delight our souls in abundance.

In terms of genuine spiritual experience, are you there dear friend? Are you at peace? Are you truly joyful, irrespective of whatever is going on in your life? Are you enjoying a rich life of fulfilment?

Does your prayer life look like Spurgeon’s description above, or would you more describe it as a small dinghy that has capsized in an ocean of troubles, or is forever circling within a river of discontent?

If you are aware that your prayer life is just not where it should be and you would like to do something about it, allow me to share the following suggestions, which I trust will move you towards that desired result. 

• Observe Heavenly Protocol (click here to read a related in-depth post)

Psalm 100:1-4 lets us know that there’s a prescribed protocol for coming into God’s presence. That protocol is thanksgiving followed by praise. So don’t just turn up with a wish list or spew out bitter complaints.

Recognise that you are approaching an awesome and holy God. Treat him with the same honour and respect that you would give to any earthly dignitary. If you are not sure how to, or run out of fresh ideas, the psalms are littered with tributes and paeans, which you can borrow to express your heart.

• Come In Faith and With an Expectant Heart

As human beings, we are generally people-pleasers. We want to get along with those within our acquaintance circle. Whether the boss or our colleagues, friends, family, or neighbours, we can spend a lot of our time either appeasing or pleasing them.

There are those who worship false gods and because they have only a one-sided relationship with these ‘gods’, they are often in the position of trying to appease them or hoping to gain their favour.

Not so with God! He is not only accessible and approachable, he is favourably disposed towards you. He has your best interests and welfare as a primary concern, upon his heart. He does however require you to have faith in and trust Him. If you want to please God, then have faith in his Word, in his promises, in his ability to help you whatever the problem (see Hebrews 11:6).

Perhaps we find it difficult putting complete trust in a God we cannot see. Yet, when it comes to our everyday life, we will often place our confidence and trust in people we’ve never seen and know nothing about their character or background. Take for example, an aircraft pilot. How many times have you run a background check on him/her before flying? My guess is: never! We put our trust in the airline that has employed him/her and we take it for granted that this person has passed the necessary tests, has the necessary experience, and will not do anything to endanger passengers.

Dear friend, the God who created this universe, who upholds and runs its entire existence merely by the power of his word, the one who knew you before you were even conceived in your mother’s womb, the one who came up with his ingenious plan of salvation, the one who knows the end from the beginning, the one who is able to cause all things that happen in our lives to work together for our good, is surely worthy of our trust. He has proved his character and ability again, and again, and again.

If you have been a Christian for any length of time, you know that God is good, loving, kind, capable and has an unimpeachable character. You know it from reading His Word, and you know it from personal experience. Do you know anyone who’d sacrifice their beloved child to die for someone else (whether good or bad), let alone for the entire world? Again, my guess is: probably not!

In Romans 8:32, we are told that:

He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?

Based on this verse of scripture alone, I believe God has fully earned our trust – don’t you?

• Invite the Lord to search your heart

As a commuter travelling into work 5 days a week by public transport, when it came to my face cleansing routine, I noticed a big difference at weekends – there was less grime! And travelling at close quarters with other commuters meant that if there were colds or flu going around, there was a fair chance I’d catch it.

As fellow citizens in this world (yet not of it!), our journey in life means that the same susceptibility to absorbing grime (sinful attitudes) or catching undesirable infections (ungodly thoughts or desires) applies to us. Relationships with others demand that we rub-up against them, so we are certainly not immune to contagious germs such as anger, pride, strife, or temptation.

1 John 3:21 tells us that if our heart does not condemn us then we can have confidence toward God. Since we are often blind to our own faults and shortcomings, asking the Lord to search our hearts should be a necessary feature of our prayer lives.

A good prayer to use from God’s Word is the one King David penned:

Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me, and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

And lead me in the way everlasting.

(Psalm 139: 23-24 NKJV)

To be continued…

I realise this is a long read, so to anyone who stuck with me to the end, I thank you for your patience and for honouring me with your time and attention. I do hope you will join me for Part 2.

With love,

Carol E. Hind – Author/Blogger/Prayer Advocate

The effectual, fervent prayer avails much!

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Dear reader, your visit is appreciated. Would you be so kind as to share your response to this post in a comment box below? And if you know anyone who could benefit from its message, please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

__________________

Are you looking for a resource that will help you to draw closer to God and develop a consistent and confident prayer life? Then please don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

AMAZON UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

AMAZON US https://amzn.to/3bj6gM1

__________________

Have you lost your spiritual verve? Has your Christian life become somewhat humdrum? Discover the secret to a vibrant and victorious spiritual life, through Holy Communion.

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Have a Happy & Victorious New Year

Your love is like a flooding river

Overflowing its banks with kindness.

God, everyone sees your goodness,

For your tender love is blended

Into everything you do.

(Psalm 145:8b-9 TPT)

Dear friends, followers, and prayer-warriors,

Once again, we come to that time at the beginning of a new year when we look back at the year gone by and look forward to the year ahead.

May I take this opportunity to thank everyone who has kindly supported me throughout 2022 with their “likes”, comments, and purchase of my books.

I’d like to say a special “thank you” to those who have gone the extra mile and left me a review. Thank you also to those who’ve reached out to me through email with your encouragement. I sincerely appreciate you!

My prayer for you is that throughout 2023, God will bless and empower you to rein in your circumstances, to walk victoriously day-by-day in his awesome grace and favour. May he envelop you in the security of his abiding peace, and may you ever experience the fragrance of his steadfast love and mercy.

With love and best wishes,

Carol E. Hind

Author/Blogger/Prayer Advocate

The Power of Praise

PRAISE, PRAYER & WORSHIP WEDNESDAY

Anybody can praise God in the good times. But when you have to rise above your feelings and your circumstances, that’s when it really counts.

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Hello dear friends and followers,

I’d like to share an excerpt from my favourite devotional, which I trust will not only be an encouragement to you, but also be a word “in season” to someone who is feeling confused, discouraged, fearful or weak.

I’ve been there! And I can assure you that when you engage in prayer, praise and worship, it is as if you are miraculously transported into a different sphere where God is able to minister his comfort, his peace and his perspective to you.

So, wherever you are right now in your relationship with him, or with others, or however you may be feeling about life, why not take this moment to refresh your heart in his awesome presence?

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Praise opens doors. Praise breaks chains. Any time you praise God in spite of the circumstances, the forces of heaven come to your aid. You say, ‘But sometimes I don’t feel like praising God.’ The psalmist wrote, ‘I will bless the Lord at all times’ (Psalm 34:1 NKJV).

Sometimes praise is an emotional response to God’s goodness; other times it’s an act of your will. Anybody can praise God in the good times. But when you have to rise above your feelings and your circumstances, that’s when it really counts.

The battle of Jericho teaches us that sometimes you have to shout God’s praise when:

1. You are up against a brick wall.
2. It feels like you’re going in circles.
3. Your circumstances seem to mock you.
4. Your rational mind thinks, ‘This plan doesn’t make any sense.’
5. It’s the last thing you feel like doing.

But when you praise God anyway, you discover the truth of Nehemiah’s words: ‘The joy of the Lord [the joy that comes from knowing He is present with you and has gone before you to work things out in your favour] is your strength’ (Nehemiah 8:10 AMP).

When you’re ruled by circumstances and emotions you live on a rollercoaster. But if you look to the Lord of your circumstances and praise Him, you move from weakness to strength.

(The above excerpt was taken from: *UCB Word For Today – 5 July 2016 – written by Bob and Debbie Gass)

Free postal copies of UCB Word For Today are available from: FREEPOST RLTX-ABUL-GRAR, United Christian Broadcasters, Westport Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 4JF (UK and Republic of Ireland only).

For the current online version of this devotional please click here:

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Praise

Behold, God is my salvation,

I will trust and not be afraid;

For YAH, the Lord, is my strength and song;

He also has become my salvation.

(Isaiah 12:2 NKJV)

Prayer

YAHWEH, you are our God. We are grateful to be able to call upon you at any time of the day and night. We are grateful that we do not have to make a prior appointment, nor do we require a third party (other than Jesus), to be able to access your presence.

We come humbly today before your throne of grace. We simply wish to bask in your holy presence. We simply wish to lift our eyes away from our circumstances and gaze upon your bright and beautiful countenance. We raise our hands to you in praise and worship and declare you as our Lord and our God—the Lord of all our circumstances, the God of all our hopes and dreams.

Thank you, Father God, for your extravagant and steadfast love. Thank you for your pre-ordained plans and purpose for our lives. Thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your ability to transform us into the people you have called us to be.

We choose to yield to your Will, your Word, your Wisdom. We ask that you take these earthen vessels and make us fit and suitable for your use. Help us to express the excellency of your name and nature, in a way that truly glorifies you.

In Jesus’ precious name we pray. Amen!

When you’re ruled by circumstances and emotions you live on a rollercoaster. But if you look to the Lord of your circumstances and praise Him, you move from weakness to strength.

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Wishing you all a stress-free and victorious week.

With love,

Carol E. Hind – Author, Blogger and Prayer Advocate

Thank you for taking the time to visit today. Would you be so kind as to share your response to this post in a comment box below? And if you know anyone who could benefit from its message, please don’t hesitate to share it. Many thanks!

RESOURCES:

Do you long to draw closer to God and develop a consistent and confident prayer life? Then please don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

AMAZON UK:

AMAZON US:

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Our God Is a War Veteran!

PRAISE, PRAYER & WORSHIP WEDNESDAY

Praise

Praise the Lord!

Praise, O servants of the Lord,

Praise the name of the Lord!

Blessed be the name of the Lord

From this time forth and forevermore!

From the rising of the sun to its going down

The Lord’s name is to be praised.

The Lord is high above all nations,

His glory above the heavens.

Who is like the Lord our God,

Who dwells on high,

Who humbles Himself to behold

The things that are in the

Heavens and in the earth?

(Psalm 113:1-6)

Prayer

Father God in heaven, may your name be exalted and magnified throughout the entire earth. You deserve all glory and honour, so we offer to you the fruit of our lips and render jubilant praise, with thanksgiving. We salute you, O Lord God of Angel armies.

Jehovah Nissi*, hear our petition today, on behalf of all those who are residents of war-torn lands. Summon your power O God, and reveal your awesome strength and might against those who bring bloodshed, fear and turmoil to law-abiding citizens and vulnerable communities. Spread your canopy of divine protection over those whose lands and lives have been invaded illicitly and without mercy. May your spirit of peace reign over these borders and battle fields.

You are the God, who sees and knows the hearts of men and their motivations. We ask that you frustrate those who muster their military might without just cause. We ask that you punish those who execute devastation and violence against the innocent. We ask that you bring a speedy resolution to the issues that triggered the conflict and acknowledge that there is nothing too difficult for you, nothing impossible to you.

O Lord God, comfort the afflicted and bereaved. Exercise your good, gracious and perfect will, so that it ultimately prevails in these combat zones.

We ask in faith, and in the name of your precious Son, Jesus – the Prince of Peace. Amen.

*The Lord God our banner

Worship

Wishing you all a blessed and victorious week.

With love,

Carol E. Hind – Author, Blogger & Prayer Advocate

Related Reading:

A World of woes – click here

Watch & Pray – click here

Dear reader, your visit is appreciated. Would you be so kind as to share your response to this post in a comment box below? And if you know anyone you could bless with its message, please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

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Would you like to learn how to offer scriptural petitions to God that are effective? Would you like to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? Then please don’t hesitate to check out my book. You can buy now by clicking on the links below.

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Do You See Bars, or Stars?

Two inmates looked out of the window of their prison cell.

One saw bars and the other saw stars!

My dear friend, blog follower or visitor,

As you negotiate your life’s journey, what do you see ahead – prison bars, or celestial stars?

Do you feel imprisoned by your past history or current circumstances? Do you wonder whether you will ever be free of that emotional cycle of depression, or rejection, or low self-esteem? Or do you feel you will never be one of those fortunate people who makes that quantum leap out of life’s debilitating set-backs?

May I tell you something?

And when I do, will you believe me… will you accept the life-saving branch of hope that I’m holding out to you?

There is Hope for Tomorrow

My dear friend, this is my heart-felt message of encouragement and hope. You can break free of your past and experience joyous freedom and liberty.

Yes. You. Can!

You can see the beauty of life, rather than the devouring beast of wretchedness.

You can see beyond the bars of perplexity and reach for the stars of possibility.

You can put victimhood behind you and walk on in life, as a victorious overcomer.

Yes. You. Can!

Why am I so sure?

Because it has happened for me. It has happened for others.

Grab Hold of God’s Goodness

God is no respecter of persons. That means, the same opportunities for breakthrough, deliverance and freedom promised in his Word, are available to you, as well as to me. Isn’t that good great news?

Dear reader, I have even more great news for you. Jesus has already done the ground work for you. And God is committed to helping you. You are not doing life on your own.

Listen to what your Heavenly Father has done for you, as relayed to us in The Passion Translation:

You are so intimately aware of me, Lord. […] You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past.

(Psalm 139:3-5)

Learn from inspirational stories

A few years ago, I watched a YouTube video that deeply affected me… in fact, it totally inspired me.

It was about a man who’d been imprisoned for 30 years (28 of which were spent on death row), for a crime he did not commit!

When I looked into the face of this man and heard him speak (he was being interviewed by Oprah), there was not a trace of anger, bitterness, hatred, resentment, or self-pity. Not a single trace!

If there was, then he hid it well. I’m not saying there never has been, at least in the beginning. In fact, I’d be very surprised if there wasn’t. However, by the time he walked free from prison, this man had not only made lemonade from the sour lemons life had served him, but he also sought to serve others around him with the sweet beverage of encouragement.

What this man had endured at the hands of America’s justice system, put all that I have “suffered” into perspective. I may not have been unduly incarcerated in a literal prison, but I had certainly allowed myself to become imprisoned within the confines of victimhood.

Now, when I think of how I allowed a few people to make me deeply unhappy for years… how I allowed them to make me a victim… make me feel like I was a nobody, and when I consider how I allowed that cycle of negativity to affect me for years and years, I feel ashamed.

The truth of the matter is, people may have provided the materials, but I was the one who took those materials (the malice, rejection, scorn and ridicule), and shaped myself into that victim.

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent. (Eleanor Roosevelt)
http://www.womenofwarfare.wordpress.com

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Christ’s Cross or Satan’s Constraints – which will you choose?

In comparison to this man, what I’ve been through is nothing. And I’m so grateful to God that I did not have to carry that particular cross.

Every follower of Christ has to carry their own cross of suffering, pain and shame, and God knows exactly what type of cross we can carry, and how much we can bear. He knows just what it is we need to hone our character, strengthen us emotionally, psychologically and spiritually.

I do not believe I could carry the cross of a Joseph, who was also unjustly accused and imprisoned (see Genesis 39:1-20). And I hope I am never put to the test of those individuals who find themselves incarcerated, or placed on Death Row, for a crime they did not commit.

I salute this man – Anthony Ray Hinton.  I salute his mother, who single-handedly looked after him and 9 other kids, after his father developed mental health problems when Anthony was only 4 years old. I salute Anthony’s friend, who went to visit him every single week over those 30 years! What an amazing friendship! What an incredible show of loyalty and commitment!  And, I also salute the lawyer, who battled for 16 years to set Anthony free.

I am challenged in terms of my Christian conduct when I consider this man’s story. I am challenged in terms of my thought life and self-mastery. I am challenged that this man endured what he did for 30 years, yet managed to walk out of prison resentment-free, write about his experience and have his story published. In my book, this man is an exemplary Christian, an amazing and most wonderful figure of inspiration.

If Anthony Hinton can walk free from captivity without the stench of bitterness hanging around him, if he can walk out of prison after 30 years, without the stamp of anger and hatred imprinted upon his face, or the seal of victimhood branded upon his soul, then regardless of what we face, or have suffered, you and I can also walk forward into our future as victorious overcomers. If Hinton can take his terrible ordeal and use it to encourage, motivate or fight for others, then so can you and I.

Aim for the Stars!

So my challenge to you this week dear reader is this – when you consider the difficulties of your past or present circumstances, when you view them through the murky windows of remembrance, do you see bars, or do you see stars?

Wishing you a stress-free and victorious week.

With love,

Carol E. Hind – Author, Blogger & Prayer Advocate

The effectual, fervent prayer avails much!

Related Reading/Resources:

Listen to this moving video (11mins) about Anthony Hinton’s experience.

Blog post: Underdog or Overcomer

May I also recommend a book by a dear blogger friend of mine (Shell Vera) who travelled the paths of victimhood and emerged a victor? I have also written a review on this book, which you might like to read. If so, please click here.

 You may pick up a copy from Amazon.

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Dear reader, your visit is appreciated. Would you be so kind as to share your response to this post in a comment box below? And if you know anyone who could benefit from its message, please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

Putting Away Childish Ways – A Commitment to Change

Commitment is an act, not a word (Jean-Paul Sartre)

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Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

James 1:17 (KJV)

How Can I Not Praise Him?

Jesus, the Son of God, is the Heavenly Father’s wonderful gift to the world. And salvation, i.e. ultimate deliverance from eternal death (which is permanent separation from God), plus access to God’s spiritual resources such as peace, healing and deliverance, are just some examples of God’s goodness and generosity.

Today, I found occasion to be truly thankful to my Father God for his unchanging nature. Regretfully, I cannot claim to be the same, even though God expects me to imitate him. I can be up and down in my responses to him and today, as the Holy Spirit convicted me, I just had to repent.

A Confession!

You see, every now and then I find myself having a bad attitude towards God. Let me explain. Because I had not seen spectacular results from my significant seasons of devotional activities, I felt aggrieved. I had certain expectations and when these were not satisfied, I foolishly adopted the stance of the Children of Israel in Malachi 3:13 and allowed the Enemy to suggest God was holding out on me, so what was the point of continuing with certain spiritual disciplines, such as fasting.

The Holy Spirit used two scriptures to gently reprove me.

The first reminded me that I need to be patient and consistent:

Who [God] will render to each one according to his deeds:

Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality (emphasis mine).

(Romans 2:6-7 NKJV)

God Owes Me Nothing!

God sent his Son to die for me and Jesus sacrificed his sinless life for me, so that I can have a relationship with God… so I can be redeemed from the evil influence of Satan and from the curse of being unable to fulfil the requirements of God’s Law to the letter. As a result, when I die, I will not spend eternity in hell, a place originally designed for the devil and his cohorts.

So, anything God does for me over and above his provision of eternal life, is a wonderful bonus.  I don’t want to adopt the wrong attitudes of this world, where people feel that their expectations of life are their absolute rights. Particularly as Jesus had given up his rights, in order to come to earth, identify with, and die for me.

Commitment is the little choices every day that lead to the final results we’re striving for. (Anonymous)

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The second scripture the Holy Spirit used to convict me, is as follows:

When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

(1 Corinthians 13:11 KJV)

A Christian behaving badly?

I believe many of my readers will be familiar with the scenario of a child screaming and throwing a tantrum in the supermarket, because he or she could not have what they desired (usually sweets).

My behaviour towards God is the equivalent. Because things had not happened the way I expected them to happen and within the timeframe I wanted, I was prepared to throw my spiritual toys out of the pram. I was behaving like a spoilt child!

In the above quote, the apostle Paul reminds us that as Children of God, we are expected to grow up, to put away childish thinking and behaviour.

Today, I am giving God extra special thanks and praise because despite my unjustified thoughts and accusations towards Him, despite my childish behaviour, He remains the same towards me—ever loving, ever forgiving, and ever merciful.

Thank you Father God!

Prayer

Heavenly Father,

What an awesome God you are!

I am so grateful that you never change. I can always rely upon your loving kindness, your tolerant heart and constant forgiveness.

Lord Jesus, thank you for your wonderful example of submission to the Father, even when his will meant dying for the very people who rejected, conspired against and crucified you.

Holy Spirit, I am committed to change and know I am incapable of achieving this by myself. Help me to imitate Father God’s consistent behaviour, in both my relationship with him and with others around me. Help me to put away childish ways and expectations. Help me to be more Christ-like. Help me to resist the Enemy’s false accusations against both God and myself, and to actively arm myself with the weapon of God’s Word, so that I don’t fall victim to his deceitful ploys.

I ask in faith, believing that you will grant my request, since I ask it in the name of Jesus. Amen.

You don’t get 100% results with only 50% commitment. (Anonymous)

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Worship

As part of my repentance, I partook of communion, since I wanted to show God that I’m committed to changing and I also wanted to avail myself of Christ’s resurrection power.

The following song was brought to my attention by a dear blogger friend of mine at Distillations (do check out Jacquie’s post sharing about her own commitment to change). I hope this beautiful song ministers to you, as powerfully as it does to me.

Thank you dear visitors for reading this post. I hope you found it helpful to you in your own spiritual journey and I trust that as a follower of Women of Warfare, your heart’s desire is to be conformed to the wholesome image of Christ, and not to the ways and wisdom of this world.

If you have been challenged by what I’ve shared above, or would like to add your thoughts to this post, please don’t hesitate to comment below. Alternatively, please share what change you are committing yourself to this year. I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

Carol

Author, Blogger and Prayer Advocate

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Are you looking for a resource that will help you to draw closer to God and develop a consistent and confident prayer life? Then please don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

AMAZON UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

AMAZON US https://amzn.to/3bj6gM1

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Have you lost your spiritual verve? Has your Christian life become somewhat humdrum? Discover the secret to a vibrant and victorious spiritual life, through Holy Communion.

AMAZON UK  

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And if you’d like to read an honest review on my book Ritual, Routine or Remembrance? please don’t hesitate to check out this post:

PS: the only reason this review is not on Amazon is because they refuse to upload it, stating she has not spent a certain amount with them as their reason!

My Celebration & Thanks

PRAISE the Lord!

Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.

(Psalm 106:1)

Have you ever blessed someone but your gift was met with indifference, or plain ingratitude?

It just doesn’t feel good – does it?

Now, I don’t know about you but if someone does that to me, I am less likely to want to bestow any further blessings upon that person again. And I’m sure I speak for most people when I say that we all like our gifts or our service to others, to be recognised and appreciated.

Well, you know what dear friend? God is no different!

He loves it when we acknowledge his goodness, his provision, his protection and his power.

That’s why today I am publicly giving thanks to Him.

You see, I’m celebrating a significant achievement. I have recently published my second book – Yay! Double Yay!

Of course I can’t take all the credit for myself.

Major thanks goes to my creative partnership – the illustrious Holy Godhead! I could not have done it without the enabling grace of my loving Heavenly Father, or the intercession of Jesus, my faithful High Priest, or the inspiration and guidance of the Holy Spirit.

And because I also appreciate two fellow bloggers who kindly supported me with their prayers, I’d like to give a shout out to Jacquie and Holly. A big heartfelt “thank you” my dear friends and sisters in Christ.

Friends and followers, please do take the time to visit their blogs, read a post or two and bless them with your ‘likes’ and comments.

Feeling gratitude and not expressing it is like wrapping a present and not giving it.
(William Arthur Ward)

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And now, without further ado, here’s the reason for my gratitude and appreciation.

Won’t you celebrate with me?

Have a great weekend!

With love,

Carol

The effectual, fervent prayer avails much!

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Dear reader, your visit is appreciated.

Would you be so kind as to share your response to this post in a comment box below? And please don’t hesitate to share it with your social network. It would be so much appreciated. Thank you!

Prayer Gem: 24

Challenge:

Are You Longing For Revival in Your Nation?

Then pray!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Need a resource to develop a confident and consistent prayer life?

Then don’t hesitate to check out my book at:

UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

US https://amzn.to/3bj6gM1

Wishing you all a blessed and victorious week!

Where Are You?

SUNDAY SUPPLICATIONS

The kiss of the Sun for pardon, The song of the birds for mirth, You are nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth!

Hello, my dear family, friends and followers,

I am trusting that you are well and have emerged from the Covid-19/Lock-down drama with your faith intact.

I have a question for you dear ones.

Where are you?

Now before I unpack what it I’d like to say, to encourage you on your spiritual journey, let me ask whether this question raises any recognition bells in your mind. I’ll give you a moment to think.

Finished?

Now, given that I’m speaking into the context of those who love God and are followers of Christ, and trusting that you are familiar with your Bible, I believe you will recognise that this is a question God had asked Adam and Eve, in the book of Genesis (see Genesis 3:9).

Where are you?

Why did he ask this?

Because when he came into the Garden of Eden to fellowship with them (as was his usual custom), on this particular occasion, they were nowhere to be seen.

Why?

Because Adam and Eve had hidden themselves away. They were ashamed to meet with God because they had disobeyed his command and as a result of their disobedience they became aware of themselves in a negative way. They were naked and ashamed. But hang on, they had always been naked. Previously they’d not been ashamed. So what had suddenly made the difference?

Satan. The Devil. Mr Diablo. The Enemy of our souls!

He had made the difference. And the difference he brought into Adam and Eve’s lives was not positive. It was not life-enhancing. In fact, it brought a curse upon all humanity.

Satan had lied. He’d manipulated the truth. He’d implied by his words that perhaps God had misrepresented facts and was withholding something desirable from Adam and Eve. He suggested they could be their own gods, operate in their own wisdom, experience life on their own terms. And all Eve had to do to make this happen was eat of the forbidden fruit from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil. So she did. And the rest as they say, is history!

Before this event took place, it was Adam and Eve’s practice to fellowship with God daily. After the event however, they hid from His presence. They felt naked and exposed and no longer saw themselves as worthy.

Now when God called and asked “where are you?” do you think he didn’t know the answer to his question? Do you think that the One who is omniscient, didn’t know what had happened and why his two friends, his son and daughter had not kept their fellowship appointment as usual?

Of course he did!

He asked because he wanted them to own up to what they had done. He wanted them to be honest.

Behold You desire truth in the inward parts,

And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.

(Psalm 51:6)

He asked because he wanted them to know that just because they had sinned, he did not love them any less than before they had sinned. He still wanted to fellowship with them. He asked because he wanted them to realise that disobedience brings consequences. He wanted them to understand and learn that the Enemy is a deceiver, who will manipulate you into thinking and doing something contrary to God’s will, contrary to whom God called and made you to be. He expected them to recognise and admit their error and take responsibility for their actions.

Do you know that God still desires open and honest fellowship with you today?

Dear friends:

• if you have cooled somewhat in your relationship with him;
• if you have accepted the lies of the Enemy, and doubted God’s goodness, or faithfulness, or ability to help and deliver you;
• if you feel spiritually naked, exposed and ashamed because of life experiences and your responses to them;
• if your choices have led you out of God’s perfect will so that you feel uncomfortable in, or dismissive of, God’s holy presence;
• if you feel complacent about your commitment to him;
• if you feel discouraged or bewildered by the disconnect between God’s assurances of blessing in His Word and the contrary evidence of your personal life…

Are you aware that God is reaching out and calling to you? Can you hear your heavenly father asking: where are you?

Whether saint or sinner – God loves you! He wants to associate with you. He wants to fellowship with you. He wants to protect you. But he will not force you to come to him!

Dear friend, if your fellowship with God through prayer, reading His Word and worship has deteriorated, is no longer a priority, or is non-existent, I’d like to encourage you today, to draw close to him. The Bible assures us that when we do so, he will reciprocate.

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

(James 4:8)

No matter how worldly-wise you may believe yourself to be, no matter how ‘got-my-streetwise-head-screwed-on-tight’ you may judge yourself to be, no matter how ‘self-sufficient’ you may feel yourself to be, you are not, and never will be, in complete control of your life. The past two years of the Covid-19 pandemic has been proof of that!

And so, if you don’t want to continue through life without the benefit of the One who is in control, taking care of you… looking out for you… helping and guiding you… then you need to return to the garden of fellowship. You need to return to the terrain of obedience. You need to return to the land of loving submission to God’s will.

Can you hear God’s loving enquiry to you today?

Where are you?

If you can hear him calling, what’s your response?

Dear friend (I speak to both saint and sinner), if you can hear his voice, don’t ignore and don’t harden your heart. Don’t wait to get your life ‘together’, or for a more convenient time. You never know what’s around the corner of life!

So, act today!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Effectual, fervent prayer avails much!

PS: Have you put your spiritual armour on today?

Prayer Focus:

Let’s pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ who are discouraged, or who have become a casualty of the serpent’s bite of deception and wandered away from God’s perspective.

PRAYER:

Father God,

You are an amazing God! What a privilege it is to be invited into your holy presence and fellowship with you. Thank you for your steadfast, unconditional love and acceptance. Forgive us for our disobedience, rebellion and ignorance.

In accordance with Ephesians 6:18 we lift up to you every member in the body of Christ, who is struggling in their relationship with you. We pray for those who have been deceived by the Enemy and are reaping the consequences of their actions. We apply the protective covering of the blood of Jesus to their lives, homes and loved ones and ask that you show mercy to them.

We pray for those who have been caught up in the busyness of life, or whose love for you has waned and ask that you kindle within their hearts a deeper love and passionate devotion for you. We pray for those whom the Enemy has targeted with lies and deception. Open their eyes to the truth Father God and deliver them from evil.

Jesus, you said that your sheep hear your voice and follow you. We therefore ask that your voice be raised within our consciences above the subversive voices of our social culture and our self-will. May your voice stir faith in our hearts and bring lasting assurance and hope. May your voice speak wisdom and guidance into our lives.

Holy Spirit, help us to tend to our gardens of fellowship with diligence.  Help us to be vigilant against the wiles of the devil who seeks to undermine our confidence in, and relationship with, God. Help us to love our Heavenly Father the way he deserves, with all our heart, mind, soul and strength.

We ask this in the mighty matchless name of Jesus. Amen.

© Carol Hind

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Sunday’s Supplications

Sunday’s Supplications invites you to not only read the posts but also participate in the prayers. Let’s pray for ourselves and for each other. Let’s obey God’s command to watch and pray for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18)

Please note, you do not have to be a blogger to join this praying community.

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Women of Warfare followers and visitors have a wonderful and victorious week!

Compassion Fatigue? Not On Our Watch!

The following is an intro to a previous post, which I’d like to draw to the attention of new followers in particular. However, those who have faithfully followed me from around 2016 when this post was originally written, may also wish to read and refresh their memories.

Whilst I am happy to re-purpose old material, my main desire is to stir up your hearts and galvanise you into action with regards to prayer and intercession.

Given the condition of our world following Covid-19, the implementation of lockdown measures, and the threat of virus variants, I am sure you’ll agree with me that the call to prayer, the call to seek God’s urgent and merciful intervention, is sorely needed.

Do read and please act. Send Jesus your kneemail today!

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Que Sera Sera?

Have you ever looked at this world in despair?

I can relate!

It is a rare event when media reports on current events raise a smile from me, or a sense of belief that all is well with the world. I think I can honestly say that most times after listening to a news channel, or reading a newspaper, I feel disgusted, disquieted or depressed. And sometimes I can even feel ashamed to admit that I belong to the human race – in fact, somebody stop the world – I wanna get off!

To read the rest of this post please visit HERE

Have a blessed week!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

The effectual, fervent prayer avails much!

If you are looking for a resource that will help you to draw closer to God and develop a consistent and confident prayer life, please don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

AMAZON UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

AMAZON US https://amzn.to/3bj6gM1

The call to prayer, the call to seek God’s urgent and merciful intervention, is sorely needed. Send Jesus your knee-mail today!

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Don’t Worry – Be Happy!

Hello Women of Warfare followers and visitors. A belated welcome to a brand new year!

When the clock struck midnight this year and Happy New Year wishes rang around the globe, how did you feel? How did you respond?

Did those words ring hollow in your ears?

I do hope not!

I do trust that you were able to give and receive such greetings with a genuinely positive heart.

The word “happy” seemed to stand out for me today, as I was thinking about what to write. On checking my mini Oxford dictionary, I saw that Happy is defined as:

• Pleased
• Contented
• Fortunate

I wonder, do any of these words describe how you felt throughout 2020? And how are you feeling this year?

For myself, I can say that I am pleased to be alive. Thousands of people have lost their lives to the Covid-19 virus. It grieves my heart to know that so many people met with an untimely death and I cannot help but wonder, where are they now?

Did they have a chance to hear the gospel? If they had been given the opportunity, what did they do with it? Did they reject, or accept Christ? Or did they postpone to a more convenient time, which never came?

Dear reader, if you are reading this post and you have not committed your life to Christ, then you are in a precarious position. Please take some time to read my outreach post which informs you why ignoring God’s free gift of salvation could put you at your peril. Believe me, I am not scaremongering. I am merely concerned for your spiritual well-being.

And now back to my message for this post.

As previously mentioned, I am pleased to be alive. I am also learning to be content.

It is not always easy in this world of have more, give more, do more and be more. And it is all too easy to get pulled into the secular world’s never-ending cycle of competition and covetousness. As the Bible says, the eye is never satisfied (Ecclesiastes 1:8).

For a long time (even after I became a Christian), I entertained the idea that my life was blighted with misfortune. Today, I am glad to say that my mind-set has radically changed. I have become way more positive. I believe the fact that God has adopted me into his family… that I have a wonderful relationship with him… that he has promised never to leave me, to protect and provide for me, makes me a fortunate person indeed.

In the United Kingdom, polls have been taken to see which area of our nation happens to be the happiest. As children of God, I think we should be the happiest people on earth, period! Unfortunately, I realise that is not always the case.

Perhaps assessing our happiness status should be something we do for ourselves every now and again. When last have you checked?

Why not take some time out this weekend, or as soon as practicable, to assess for yourself? Not in order to make yourself miserable, or to crow inwardly with ungodly pride but to give you something meaningful to come before God and be thankful for.

After all, if not for the Grace of God, who knows where you would be, or even if you would have made it to see 2021!

Have a blessed weekend.

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

The effectual, fervent prayer avails much!

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Do you want to draw closer to God and develop a consistent and confident prayer life? Then Petitions From My Heart could be just what you need. Please don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

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Dear reader, your visit is appreciated. Would you be so kind as to share your response to this post in a comment box below?

If you know anyone who would benefit from its message, don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

A Glorified Weakling!

Do you like being weak? Feeling weak?

Do you relish it when other people have the upper hand over you?

Are you quite happy to let those who feel so inclined walk over you, or play their petty mind games and pull down, even crush your carefully erected but fragile self-esteem?

Now, if you are anything like me, or like the average human being, I’m sure you’ve nodded your head vigorously, indicating NO! No way! Absolutely not!

Dear reader, I admit there have been a number of unpleasant occurrences in my past, which left me feeling weak and helpless. It left me feeling a victim. And, as far as I was concerned, God did not seem to care one hoot, because if he did where was he? Why didn’t he exercise his power and deal with those infernal thorns in my flesh? Prompto!

Ever felt the same way?

Well I don’t know about you but when I thought along these lines, I knew full well in my heart of hearts that God did care. He always does and always will! I knew it. But because he was not intervening in the way I wanted, and because he was not intervening within my time-frame, I became angry and accepted the lies of the Enemy, who was quick to suggest that God did not care. After all, if he did, surely he would… blah, blah, blah!

Now when you are hurt and angry, all you care about is your pain and all you want is for that pain to be eradicated, or at the very least, alleviated. And you want it to happen yesterday!

And so, let’s recap. I’ve been mistreated. I’ve been deeply hurt. I’m been left feeling a victim. I’m licking my wounds.

Furthermore, I’m angry with God and I’m sulking because he hasn’t come flying to my defence. I’m so out of sorts that I hardly even noticed that the devil has gate-crashed my pity-party!

Perhaps you too have been there, done that, and got the proverbial tee-shirt!

During my Bible reading recently, I was reminded of the following:

…My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

(2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV)

It set me thinking.

I’ve been praying and believing God for a manifestation of his power in my life. And it has been a heart-felt desire and prayer throughout my Christian walk.

Without realising it, I’ve received prime opportunities for this desire and prayer to be answered. And also without realising it, I have failed to avail myself of these God-given opportunities.

How is that? (I hear you ask).

Read the above scripture quote again.

Did you notice? Have you clicked yet?

Paul is quite clearly saying that God’s power rests upon us when we gladly suffer those occasions which leave us feeling weak, powerless and afflicted. In fact, he is also saying we should glory (take pleasure in, boast about, or Big-up), our infirmities (our inability to obtain or sustain desired results).

The thing is, we don’t like feeling weak. We want to be Superman or Wonder Woman. We want to be seen as “having it all together”. We want to feel in control.

However, God wants to be God in us, for us and through us, and he wants us to acknowledge that he is indeed God, no matter whether circumstances or Satan, tells us otherwise.

Dear friends, if you are praying about a situation that does not seem to be changing, consider this, perhaps God is using the situation to change you!

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Women of Warfare readers and followers, if the message of this post applies to you, may I counsel you today? Don’t just go through it – grow through it!

Prayer Focus:

Let’s pray for those in the Body of Christ, who feel broken by their circumstances, forgotten by God and forsaken. And please don’t forget to put on your spiritual armour before entering the battlefield of prayer!

PRAYER:

Father God,

You are the Ever-living God, who endures for ever. We bless and praise your holy and most awesome name.

Heavenly Father, you are a God of compassion and your mercies are new every morning. They are extended toward us every single day.

I commit into your tender care, all those within Christ’s Body, who feel alone and afflicted by their circumstances. I ask that you send your Holy Spirit to come alongside each one, to comfort and strengthen them. Minister your peace to their hearts, the peace that surpasses natural understanding. Minister hope for their future and cause that hope to act as an anchor for their soul. Anchor them to an unwavering belief that you are with them and will never leave or forsake them. Anchor them to the revelation truth within your Word that is able to set them free from every taunt, lie, and false accusation of the Enemy.

Afflicted child of God, I speak to your heart, to your spirit being, in the name of Jesus. Whoever you are, and wherever you may be, I command you to arise now in the strength and grace of God. I command you to arise and anoint yourself with the oil of joy. I declare that you will choose to cast aside your spirit of heaviness and you will arise in faith and put on your garments of praise.

Lord Jesus, I thank you for all that you suffered on our behalf, so that we may be redeemed from the hand of the Enemy and from the curse of the Law. I thank you that you ever live to make intercession for us. I thank you that you are a Good Shepherd and the overseer of our souls. Help us, both as individual members and corporately as your body, to keep our eyes and hearts fully focused upon you, the author and finisher of our faith. Help us to walk victoriously in life.

Holy Spirit, we call upon you as the one sent to come alongside us and help. Teach us to know who we are in Christ. Empower us to exercise our authority over the Enemy. Motivate us to die to every inclination and desire of our carnal lower selves, so that we may grow into the full measure of the stature of Christ.

Father God, we ask this petition in faith, and in the mighty, matchless name of your Son, Jesus. Amen.

© Carol Hind

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Sunday’s Supplications

Sunday’s Supplications invites you to not only read the posts but also participate in the prayers. Let’s pray for ourselves and for each other. Let’s obey God’s command to watch and pray for all the saints (Ephesians 6:18)

Please note, you do not have to be a blogger to join this praying community.

*****   *****   *****

Women of Warfare followers and visitors have a wonderful and victorious week!

Credits: The above CC0 images come courtesy of Pixabay.com

The Choice Is Yours!

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Gerd Altmann at Pixabay.com

 

Our Heavenly Father planned for us to be conformed to the same image as his Son, Jesus Christ. In other words we are to emulate him.

However, our carnal flesh prefers to conform to the ways of this world. Now, the celebrity culture means many of us seek to live our lives as close as possible to those we admire and believe represents the epitome of success.

Jesus is, and was a celebrity in heaven, before he came to earth. However, he chose to set his privileges aside and made himself poor, so we could become rich in the things that truly matter, such as an eternal destiny beyond our wildest dreams, peace of mind, freedom from guilt and fear, hope for our future, and the absolute assurance of an Almighty God’s protection and provision.

Now in this current climate of the Covid-19 virus and the resulting havoc wrought by each nation’s lockdown measures, doesn’t this sound attractive?

Unfortunately, even though Jesus has already paid the price for us to have and enjoy an abundant lifestyle of Kingdom privileges, we have a spiritual enemy, who is determined that we should not.

So he fights. He intimidates. He lies, both about us and to us!

And when you measure the quality and effectiveness of our lives against the life of Jesus whilst he was on this earth, it would seem that Satan’s tactics are succeeding in most of our circumstances.

Dear reader, we can either remain passive, or fight back. We can either accept the status quo, or get on board with God’s programme and engage in spiritual warfare.

How do we do this?

In prayer! By standing our ground in faith. By choosing to live our lives as victorious overcomers.

So, are you praying?

Are you praying effectively?

Are you praying without ceasing (i.e. developing a consistent prayer lifestyle)?

Are you emulating Christ, or seeking to emulate an ungodly celebrity’s lifestyle?

If the former, you are ensuring a victorious future. If the latter, you are most likely heading towards a disappointing denouement.

Apoorva Gupta, a writer at the Thought Catalog, makes the following observation:

The choices you make and the decisions you take have a long lasting impact on your life. They make us special, put a bar of distinction between us and everyone else. Our lives are a series of choices we’ve made so far. We live with those choices for the rest of our lives.

[…] We can’t undo the past, but we can always learn from it. Choices are the building blocks of our lives and despite all the mistakes one makes, a new day brings with itself new opportunities and a whole new world of choices.

 

If you are interested in reading the rest of what Gupta has to say regarding how choices shape our lives, click here:

Reader – you have a choice. So, choose you this day whom you will serve, whom you will emulate!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Effectual, fervent prayer avails much!

Do you need a resource that encourages you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

AMAZON UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

AMAZON US https://amzn.to/3bj6gM1

 

 

Were you challenged by this post? Do share your thoughts in a comment box below and if you know anyone who could benefit from its message then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

Not After Sundown!

 

 

 

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ANGER:

The Chambers 21^st Century Dictionary gives the following definition:

a feeling of great displeasure or annoyance, usually brought on by some real or perceived injustice, injury etc.

And VINE’S Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words describes anger as: “the strongest of all passions”.

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I recently shared a post about Iago (a character in the Shakespearean play Othello), who became so angered when his superior did not choose him for promotion that he set about destroying this man’s marriage.

The Bible tells us that anger rests in the bosom of a fool.  Well. I certainly don’t wish to be a fool, nor do I want to be considered a fool in God’s eyes.

In fact, I don’t want anger to rest within me, to make its home in me. I don’t like the idea of me making anger comfortable in my life, allowing it free bed and board, so to speak.

I am referring to the type of anger that is corrosive. The kind that destroys either yourself as you harbour it within your heart, or motivates you to hurt others.

The Bible shares various stories which reveal how unrestrained anger can eventually escalate out of control and manifest itself into something evil. Cain killed his own brother (Genesis 4:3-8) and Haman plotted to annihilate all Jews (Esther 3:1-6).

I recognise and admit that I’ve struggled in the past to reign in my anger, so that it does not harm me, so that I do not stew in resentment or bitterness because of what people have done, or said, which has hurt me.

When I look back over my life, I can see that I failed to obey the Bible’s command to let go before sundown, any issue which arouses my anger. And, if I’m honest, I still struggle with this sundown deadline.

 

However, as I seek to be changed into Christ’s image, and as I consider more and more all that Jesus willingly suffered on my behalf, in order that I might become a member of God’s family and be conformed to the image of his Son, the greater has been my desire to deal with those areas of my life which are contrary to God’s will, contrary to his Word, contrary to my standing as a disciple, and decision to take up my cross and follow Christ.

To me, unrighteous anger is like an illegal immigrant. It needs to be discovered and deported! In fact, unchecked anger has to go, since it opens the door for the Enemy to come in and take up residence within our lives! I am sure you are familiar with that old adage about giving someone an inch and them taking a mile. We can be sure that the devil is no different.

Dear reader, are you seeking to walk in life as a victorious overcomer? Then let me encourage you today to examine your hearts. And if anger, has been a long-term bed-fellow in your heart, recognise it has the capacity to cause significant internal damage.

Jesus went to a lot of trouble and suffered immense pain, so we can be made whole, so we can lead victorious lives. Now, we can acknowledge the huge cost Jesus paid on our behalf, and avail ourselves of the abundant life he desires us to have, or we can pander to the carnal dictates of our flesh and continue to live our lives, as victims. The choice is ours!

Victim, or victor? Which will you choose?

With love,

 Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Choosing to walk as a victorious overcomer

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The Family Connection

 

 

One of my favourite comedy programmes is Everybody Loves Raymond.

There is an episode where an Italian aunt comes to stay and she makes a big difference to the dynamics of the family.

They become united, even loving, have singalongs and joyful meal times. Everyone agrees that she is the best thing to happen to them.

But then they discover that she is not their aunt after all and their Italian heritage may not even be genuine! And so, without the aunt’s good influence, they slip back into their old dysfunctional ways.

I wonder, do you recall how you felt when you first gave your life to the Lord… when you invited Jesus to come into your heart… and the difference he made with regard to the way you previously felt about, and lived your life?

A divided heart

Compare those days to your relationship with God now. As time has passed, have you lost that “loving feeling”?

In the book of Revelation, Jesus sent several messages to various churches in different regions.

In particular, I’d like to draw your attention to his message to the Laodicean church. He said:

 

I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other!

So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth…

…Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

(Revelation 3:15-16, 20 NIV)

 

 

Again, in another passage of the Bible, God takes issue with his covenant family, the Children of Israel, because they’d abandoned him as their God and started adopting the practices of the heathen nations around them.

In no uncertain words, He tells them:

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

(Isaiah 55:6 NIV)

 

Friends and followers, may I ask you where you are at in your relationship with God?

Since around March this year, what we once perceived as normality in our individual lives, in our nations, indeed in the entire world, changed overnight. And we are still endeavouring to negotiate the new paths of uncertainty and change.

Who knew at the beginning of 2020, when we celebrated the New Year and the ushering in of a new decade that, just a few months down the line, our everyday lives would be changed beyond recognition?

Who knew that our liberties would be curtailed? Who knew that our health would be threatened, indeed many lives lost, as a result of an unknown and deadly virus, which hit us out of the blue? Who knew?

Jesus! That’s who!

Our Father God in Heaven. That’s who!

Now I believe that this pandemic is an opportunity for those of us who know the Lord, who confess to be his followers, to examine our lives and our hearts and see whether we are truly abiding in a position of faith and integrity.

It is an opportunity, to draw closer to the three members of the Godhead because they (along with the Word of God), are the only stable and unchanging aspects within a changing and troublesome world. And, if we’ve allowed our relationship with Christ to grow lukewarm, it’s also an opportunity to rectify this, before it is too late!

Now, whilst the Enemy would like to fill our hearts with fear, despair, and perhaps even resentment over lost liberties and livelihoods, as children of God, we can hold onto hope for our future and that hope (the God-type of hope), acts as an anchor for our soul (our mind, will and emotions).

 

 

Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.

God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.

We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure…

(Hebrews 6:17-19 NIV)

 

The Laodicean church is an example of God’s people who may believe they are in the right place with God but they have somehow lost their way. The Laodicean church is often considered to be a picture of the Body of Christ during the “Last Days”, i.e. the days before Jesus is expected to return.

If this is the case, are we paying heed to Jesus’ warning? If we examine our hearts and our lives and compare them to how we used to be at the beginning of our salvation, have our hearts grown lukewarm?

Has our commitment waned? Have we allowed compromise or other priorities to creep into our lives? Have we, like the Children of Israel, adopted secular practices, entertained worldly desires and worshipped at the shrine of self-gratification?

If the Lord were to weigh us in his scales and balances today, would we come up short?

Unlike the family in Everyone Loves Raymond, if you are born-again (i.e. you’ve committed your life to Christ), there should be no question mark in your heart on whether you are a true member of God’s family.

And unlike the aunt, who turned out not to be a true relative, Jesus our brother, and God our heavenly Father, will never turn out to be of questionable origin. We can be absolutely sure that any confidence we have, based on our relationship with them, will never, ever, turn out to be unfounded.

So let me ask you, even if you were to wake up tomorrow to find the world you know has turned completely upside down, is your relationship with God such that you share the confidence of Habukkuk?

Listen to his uncompromising confession:

Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

(Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV)

 

Now whilst I am not happy that the pandemic has altered the way I live my life, such that I don’t feel at liberty to enjoy normal pursuits such as shopping, entertaining family and friends, and taking trips abroad, I recognise that there is a bigger picture here.

My future is in God’s hands. He’s not only in control of my life, he’s in control of my nation, he’s in control of the entire world, regardless of whether events seem to indicate otherwise.

And there’s an even bigger picture beyond the concerns of this present world. There’s the issue of eternity and where I, and others spend it, once our days on earth are ended.

And there’s also my responsibility to tell others about Jesus, to let them know that he alone is able to offer them peace and safety in this present unstable world, plus a glorious future in the world to come.

And it’s my responsibility through prayer, to invite God into the affairs of my nation and this world, and to pray for his will and purpose to be done.

Now, if you are a member of God’s family, then it is your responsibility too!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

A Student in His Secret Place (Psalm 91:1)

 

Do you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ?

Are you familiar with the good news of God’s Gospel?

If you answered “No” to both questions, but would like to know more, please click here 

 

Do you need a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

  

 

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Respect!

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Gerd Altmann at Pixabay.com

 

Q:        What is Five Minute Friday?

A:        It is a 5min free write blog event hosted by Kate Motaung. Every Thursday Kate announces a one-word prompt at 10pm EST. The link-up is open for a full week, until the following Thursday evening. For further details on how to participate click HERE. 

 

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

FMF WORD PROMPT: RESPECT

Respect.

I have a lot of time, respect and admiration for those who have walked the Christian path before me successfully. People like my mother. Like Bob Gass (writer of the UCB Devotional*) and my very first pastor and Father in the faith, Archbishop Malachi Ramsay. I have great respect for those who not only talk the talk, but walk the walk!

Respect.

It is earned. Not demanded.

We give respect to one another for various reasons and under various circumstances. However, the fact that certain organisations exist, show that there is a need for people to be forced to give others respect. I refer to organisations such as Black Lives Matter, which exists solely because respect has been withheld from fellow human-beings, simply because of the colour of their skin!

As Christians, do we truly respect one another? And if we say we do, do we only show respect to those who fall within our cultural comfort zones? Do we only respect those whom we like, or are like us?

The Pharisees, Sadducees, priests and scribes did not respect Jesus. They insulted him (he casts out demons by the prince of demons), they plotted against him, and they questioned his pedigree.

[End of 5 mins]

Do you know God shows every single human being on this planet respect? He grants every one the respect to choose. To choose to acknowledge him and live a life that honours and glorifies him, or to go your own way and live your life, as you see fit.

God does not force anyone to serve him. And even when we make that commitment to follow Jesus, to acknowledge and accept God’s magnanimous gift of salvation, he does not force us to obey him. He respects the fact that he has given us a free will and he respects our decision to exercise that free will, in whatever way we choose.

Now the individuals named above (my mother, Bob Gass and Malachi Ramsay) have all passed on from this world but I have no doubt they have entered into glory. Whilst they were here on earth, they respected the gifts and callings God placed upon their lives, they respected the privilege they’d been given as Children of God, and sought to live their best lives, sought to love, encourage and influence those around them. I thank God for their lives. I thank God for their legacies.

But I cannot conclude this post without giving thanks to Jesus. If it were not for him, if it were not for the fact that he chose to despise the cross and endure the shame, if it were not for his choice to leave behind his prestigious position in heaven and come to earth, to suffer a cruel and ignominious death, then my mother, Bob Gass, Malachi Ramsay would not have had the opportunity to be reconciled to God. They would not have had the choice of serving him and blessing the Body of Christ and being an example to those who came within the sphere of their influence.

So today, I pay homage and utmost respect to Jesus, my Lord, my Saviour, my soon-coming King!

 

Son of the Most High God,

You are Heir of all things.

You are King of kings,

Lord of lords,

And the Prince of Peace.

You are Alpha and Omega,

The Beginning and the End –

The First and the Last.

Blessed and only Potentate,

You who dwells in

Unapproachable light,

Receive my humble homage today,

For to you belong all honour,

All glory, and everlasting power.

Amen.

© Carol Hind (an extract from Petitions From My Heart)

Have a blessed weekend!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

The effectual, fervent prayer avails much!

 

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

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*Free postal copies of UCB Word For Today (UK and Republic of Ireland only) are available from: FREEPOST RLTX-ABUL-GRAR, United Christian Broadcasters, Westport Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 4JF

For the online version visit: UCB

 

Prayer Gem 23

 

God awaits you in his throne-room!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

 

 

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Clarissa’s Conversation with God

 

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Pixabay.com

 

 

The following is a conversational drama piece between God and a believer who feels she is just too busy to pray.

 

DAY 1:

Anonymous Speaker:     Hey! Are you busy?

Clarissa:                                Can’t you see that I am? What do you want?

Anonymous Speaker:     I’d just like to spend some time with you!

Clarissa:                                Oh! Well sorry, I’m just too busy!

Anonymous Speaker:     Anything I can help you with?

Clarissa:                                I can manage, thank you.

Anonymous Speaker:     So what are you doing?

Clarissa:                                Well, I’m trying to make my life a success.

Anonymous Speaker:     Okay. Well I can help you with that.

Clarissa:                                Hmmm. I don’t really see how you can.

Anonymous Speaker:     Just spend some time with me.

Clarissa:                                Look, I’ve already told you, I don’t have the time (mutters under breath), or the inclination!  I’ve got places to go, people to see, a life to live, so I really can’t spare the time to talk right now.

 

SIX MONTHS LATER:

Clarissa:                                Oh God, my life’s a complete mess. Help me!

Anonymous Speaker:     What’s wrong?

Clarissa:                                Where do I begin? (starts crying)

Anonymous Speaker:     Just tell me what’s wrong.

Clarissa:                                I’ve fallen out with my best friend and my boyfriend  dumped me last week. I hate my job but I’ve a mortgage to pay and now my ex wants to move out of our flat. How on earth will I manage?

Anonymous Speaker:     And you are telling me this now because…?

Clarissa:                                Well, you’re God aren’t you? I need you to do something! I need your help. I want you to get me out of this mess. I have nobody else to turn to.

Anonymous Speaker:     Well now, let me see. Did you set up a prayer account?

Clarissa:                                What’s that?

Anonymous Speaker:     It’s a type of Investment account. You invest time into building a relationship with me, so that when situations like this occurs, you can have peace and confidence in me, instead of feeling stressed and angry, like you are now.

Clarissa:                                Sorry. I didn’t realise that. I don’t have such an account. Does that mean you can’t, or won’t help me?

Anonymous Speaker:     Of course not! But because you have not invested into a consistent prayer life, your capacity to trust me is not where it could or should be.

Clarissa:                                But I do trust you!

Anonymous Speaker:     Do you?

Clarissa:                                Y-es.

Anonymous Speaker:     You don’t seem too sure there. Will you trust me despite what your circumstances look like, and trust that I know what’s best for you, even should I not answer your prayers in the way that you’d like, or as quickly as you’d like?

Clarissa:                                I have no choice! So, will you help me or not?

Anonymous Speaker:     What do you think?

Clarissa:                                I know you can. I’m not confident though that you will.

Anonymous Speaker:     And why is that?

Clarissa:                                Because I’ve neglected you all this time. Because I’ve not been truly appreciative of your blessings. Because when my life was tickety boo, I acted as if I was self-sufficient and didn’t really need you. Because I ignored that niggling feeling in my gut, which tried to warn me that if I continued to consign you to the back burner of my life, I’ll be sorry.

Anonymous Speaker:     And are you?

Clarissa:                                Yes. I am. Truly sorry.

Anonymous Speaker:     And why else?

Clarissa:                                Pardon?

Anonymous Speaker:     Is there any other reason why you don’t feel confident that I will help you?

Clarissa:                                Only that I don’t deserve it. I’ve sinned. My ex should not have been living with me. I knew it was wrong and I knew that this was at odds with your Word and with my claim to be a Christian, yet I still went ahead and did it anyway. I compromised big time!

Anonymous Speaker:     My dear Clarissa, have you forgotten what my Word says you should do whenever you fall into sin? All you have to do is repent (i.e. be remorseful and change direction), and ask for my forgiveness.

I am willing to forgive and I am willing to cleanse you. That’s what grace means. It means I am prepared to extend my unconditional love and mercy towards you, no matter what you’ve done. You do not have to “deserve” it!

Clarissa:                                Father God, please forgive me. Cleanse me. Help me.

Anonymous Speaker:     How do you feel now?

Clarissa:                                All warm and peaceful inside. Forgiven and cleansed. Prepared to trust you. Hopeful of my future.

Anonymous Speaker:     I am so happy to hear this my child. Your investment account is now open. Keep topping it up and watch your confidence in me grow. Watch your life straighten out, as you make consistent spiritual deposits.

Clarissa:                                O Thank you Father God! You are so gracious Heavenly Father. Why on earth did I think I could live my life without your help? I recommit myself into your hands. I am re-inviting Jesus to reign and govern my life according to your purpose. And I’m asking your Holy Spirit to come alongside me and help me to live a life that glorifies you.

Anonymous Speaker:     My dear child, it will be my utmost pleasure to see you grow and develop and pursue your destiny in Christ. Meanwhile, do enjoy the benefits of your salvation and the pleasures of my kingdom.

©Carol Hind – July 2020

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

 

FOR RELEVANT ADDITIONAL READING:

A love letter from your Father (click here)

 

QUESTION:

Are you too busy to pray, to spiritually invest into your future?

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

 

If you’d like to purchase a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

AMAZON UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

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Did you enjoy reading this post? If so, please share your thoughts in a comment box below. Do you know someone who would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

Prayer Gem 22

 

God awaits you in his throne-room!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

 

 

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Prayer Gem 21

 

God awaits you in his throne-room!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

 

AMAZON UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

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Are You Prepared for Life?

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Pexels.com

 

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was such a thing as a School of Good Habits, or if during our school days, Positive Habits Mastery had been on the curriculum?

I think many of us would fare a lot better in life, if we’d been taught how to adopt and maintain positive habits. Because when you think of it, a lot of what undermines us in life, is of course, bad habits!

If we always fail to get out of bed when the alarm clock goes off, it is a bad habit. When we always turn up late for appointments, it is a bad habit. When our default position is to think the worse, it is a bad habit. When we put off until tomorrow or next week, what we could, or should do today, it is bad habit.

Prayer and intercession are positive spiritual habits that we should maintain, yet many of us struggle with this, and not praying, or praying only in crisis situations, has become a bad habit.

The Bible tells us that we are not above our master but that it would be perfectly acceptable to be as our master (Luke 6:40).

Well guess what? Jesus (our Lord and Master), had a consistent prayer habit. The gospel of Luke tells us in several places that He often got up before dawn, to pray. Now, don’t get me wrong – I’m not advocating that we do likewise!

I’m saying that if prayer (and I mean meaningful prayer – not the “bless me and my pet” kind from our childhood days), is not a regular habit of ours, then we should be looking at trying to change that.

Why?

Well, I have heard it said that prayer is to our spiritual life, what oxygen is to the natural life. What would happen if you suffered a lack of oxygen for too long?

Now imagine what your spiritual being looks like to God. Imagine what it might feel like to you, if you were to see your prayer life (or lack of it), in those terms!

There are some bad habits which whilst not good, you can still muddle along through life without coming to harm. But there are definitely other habits which could end up becoming life-threatening.

For instance, if you were to smoke 60 cigarettes per day, what is the likely outcome?

If you were to live on a diet of Coco Cola, cheesecake and chocolates only, how healthy do you think you’ll be, a few years down the line?

In the same way, a consistent, quality prayer life (or lack thereof), has future consequences. Those consequences will affect your relationship with God, your confidence regarding the effectiveness of your prayers, even your attitude towards and progress in life. And when a crisis hits, will you have the spiritual stamina to cope?

Friends and followers, if Jesus, the Son of God, felt it necessary to maintain a prayer habit, who are we to not do so?

Sorry to be blunt, but only pride, ignorance or deception would make a believer think that they don’t need to.

May I offer you some advice? If you do not already have a consistent prayer habit, please do something about it.

Not tomorrow. Not next month or next year. Do something about it today!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

A Student in His Secret Place (Psalm 91:1)

Do you need a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life?

Petitions From My Heart is an ideal resource for the believer, no matter what stage you are at in your Christian walk, and no matter what your prayer ability, so don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

 

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Prayer Gem 20

 

Have you sent Jesus your knee-mail today?

 

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

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A Heart Full of Praise & Thanksgiving

 

 

Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

Psalm 107:8 (KJV)

 

I am giving God’s thanks today.

Nothing unusual in that because I am always grateful to my Father God for his loving kindness and tender mercies. But today I am giving him special thanks because it is one year since I achieved my long, long, long-standing dream and published my book.

Whoo hoo!

And I am taking this opportunity to also thank God for something else.

You see, I like to read the entire Bible once a year, and each year I try out a different version. I have so far read the entire Bible in the New Kings James, The Amplified Bible, The Living Bible and The Message. This year I am reading from the New Schofield Reference Edition of the King James’ or Authorised version.

Many of us are mega-blessed to have access to so many different versions of the Bible, and we are especially spoiled, to be able to have so many Christian resources at our fingertips, which aid us in our understanding of God’s Word.

I can remember years ago, hearing about church communities in foreign lands that only had one Bible between them to share with an entire congregation of members.

Can you imagine having to cope with that?

And what about those persecuted Christians who are shut away in a dank dark cell with only portions of the Word of God (which they’ve hopefully memorised), to keep them company?

Recently, during my quiet time I was reading Psalm 107 and was struck by the writer’s lament about the forgetfulness of his people and their ingratitude towards God for his goodness.

It has prompted me to write a thanksgiving post today, so below, I share an extract from my book, Petitions From My Heart, expressing thanks to God for the availability of his Word.

I hope it provides you with food for thought and also inspires thankfulness in your own heart.

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

 

THE HOLY BIBLE

Heavenly Father, I want to thank you for the freedom enjoyed in this nation that allows me to serve and worship you without fear of punitive measures. Thank you for the unrestricted access I have to the Scriptures and other biblical resources.

Lord God I want to thank you for preserving your Word throughout the ages. Thank you for those such as John Wycliffe who translated the Bible into English and William Tyndale, who lost his life making your Word accessible to ordinary people.

Thank you for the many writers, editors and publishers who have used their knowledge, time and effort to compose the various versions available and I also thank you for those who use their language skills to translate your Word.

Finally Lord God, I thank you for the Bible’s ability to cleanse, comfort and encourage me . . . for its ability to instruct and strengthen. May your Word continue to minister grace, healing, hope and peace to your redeemed people and to a broken world.

In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.

©Carol Hind

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

Have a wonderful weekend!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

A Student in His Secret Place (Psalm 91:1)

Need a resource to develop a confident prayer life? Check out my book at:

 

UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

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Did you enjoy reading this post? If so, please share your thoughts in a comment box below. Do you know someone who would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Prayer Gem 19

 

Have you sent Jesus your knee-mail today?

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

AMAZON UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

AMAZON US https://amzn.to/3bj6gM1

 

What’s your response to this post? Please share your thoughts in a comment box below and if you know anyone you could bless with its message, don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

Prayer Gem – 18

 

Have you sent Jesus your knee-mail today?

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

 

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

AMAZON UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

AMAZON US https://amzn.to/3bj6gM1

 

 

What’s your response to this post? Please share your thoughts in a comment box below and if you know anyone you could bless with its message, don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

Prayer Gem – 17

 

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

 

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

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EAT. PRAY. LOVE.

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Pixabay.com

No.

I am not writing a review on Elizabeth Gilbert’s memoir of the same title. I enjoyed reading it however, it also left me feeling quite sad.

Sad that this woman appeared to have had an amazing encounter with our Father-God but then went off on a tangent and chose to seek out and explore a relationship with other gods. Sad because she came so close to experiencing the real thing, then ended up so far away.

I realise there are others who would not agree with me. Julia Roberts for one, since she apparently raved about this book, but how I wish the author had realised that the God who’d met with her on her bathroom floor when her life fell to pieces, is the only true and living God!

As I was saying, I am not writing a review about this book. I am simply borrowing the title to speak to you dear friends, about the importance of pursuing an ongoing, authentic relationship with God.

EAT

The Scribes and Pharisees knew all about God, or so they thought. Their knowledge was head knowledge. Religious. Theologically based.

Jesus scorned their type of so-called relationship with his Father-God. They dissected the scriptures instead of dining on and delighting in them. Rather than consuming the Word to feed their souls, to provide nutritional value to their spiritual life, they searched the scriptures to feed their ego, to fatten their self-esteem.

Jesus warned us not to be like them. He declared that he is the Bread of life. Are you feeding on God’s Word and allowing Him to satisfy your needs? Whether your need is to be loved, to feel secure, or have significance, that need can only be truly satisfied when you turn your life over to Christ and allow God’s Word to direct your path.

PRAY

Unfortunately we see examples in the Word of God where the religious folk of Jesus’ day fell down in this area as well. They used prayer as a means of comparing themselves to others, whom they felt were beneath them. They saw prayer not so much as humbling themselves in the presence of an Almighty God but as a way of exalting themselves in their own estimation and showing contempt for those they felt didn’t measure up to their standards.

How do you see prayer?

• As a wish list to bring to your Heavenly Father Christmas?
• As a chore?
• As something done only by those specially called?

Prayer is to the spiritual life what oxygen is to the natural life. So if regular prayer is not a feature of your Christian lifestyle, guess what? You are putting yourself in the same category as those prison inmates who walk towards their execution – spiritually speaking, you are akin to a “dead man walking!”

If this is you, perhaps you need to change your perspective regarding this spiritual discipline and begin practising it with diligence. See prayer as an indispensable, life-enhancing habit. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes to the quality of your life.

LOVE

The Pharisees, Scribes and Sadducees did not seem to love very well. However, to be fair, when you look at the attitudes and behaviour of some contemporary Christians, perhaps they were no different to some modern-day church members.

What a stark difference between the uncharitable ways of the Sadducees, Scribes and Pharisees, as they interacted with synagogue-goers, and the caring, generous-hearted members of the house churches in Acts!

Our Heavenly Father’s standard of love (agape love), as elaborated in 1 Corinthians 13, is a high standard indeed. Yet this is the standard that God demands of us as followers of Christ.

When you consider that God so LOVED the world that he gave his only Son to die for it and redeem it, when you consider that Christ laid down his life willingly as an act of love, when you consider what we have escaped as a result of that love, the standard God demands seems reasonable.

And yet we can struggle to accept God’s unconditional love, and we often balk at, even sometimes outright refuse to exemplify that love to others, particularly if we feel they don’t deserve it.

EAT. PRAY. LOVE.

Spiritual food for thought indeed!

Have a blessed weekend.

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

 

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

AMAZON UK https://amzn.to/3ciUt1q

AMAZON US https://amzn.to/3bj6gM1

 

Did you enjoy reading this post? Please share your thoughts in a comment box below. Do you know someone who would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

 

 

When Words Fail — BeautyBeyondBones

I don’t know about you, but one of the things that often stands in my way of praying, is that I don’t really know how. I don’t know the right things to say – I don’t feel quite worthy to “ask” for things. And sometimes it’s like — well it’s been so long, I’d probably…

via When Words Fail — BeautyBeyondBones

What’s Your Game Plan?

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Pixabay.com

 

There’s a TV programme I love to watch every now and again. It’s called Come Dine With Me! For those of you unfamiliar with this show, let me explain what it’s all about.

Either a chosen set of individuals, or a few couples, come together for an entire week to compete for a prize of £1000. The idea is for each individual or each couple, to throw a dinner party for the other participants. Afterwards, guests mark each individual or couple, according to how well they performed.

Participants vary in the criteria used to mark fellow competitors. Some base their marks solely on the quality of the meal. Others take into consideration the full experience of the evening (food, ambience, attentiveness of host, and the entertainment).

The majority of competitors are honest and mark according to their perceived experience. Others seem to have a game plan. In other words, no matter how well their fellow competitors have done, they will find a reason to offer a low mark, in a bid to ensure that they come out on top. Usually their strategy works. At other times however, it backfires!

When I first considered my idea for today’s post, the phrase “game plan” came to mind.

What is a game plan?

It’s a pre-determined strategy to win.

So, bearing this in mind, let me ask you dear friend in Christ, when it comes to winning in life, do you have a spiritual game plan?

Let me first explain that by “winning in life” I do not mean trampling on others, or undermining others or mispresenting others, in order to emerge as top dog. Nor do I mean ruthlessly removing other competitors from the game, in order to climb that career ladder or reach your pinnacle of success.

I mean emerging as a victor, regardless of what life throws at you and doing so with integrity.

Now anyone who’s been around for any length of time, will be aware that life is never straightforward. In fact, it can be downright difficult! Things we expect to happen, situations we strive to secure, or ideal scenarios we desire and seek after, often do not happen, or else does not materialise in the way anticipated.

Yet even though we are aware of this, even though we know that as we proceed through life, we can expect challenges or obstacles, we often find ourselves unprepared. We end up riding the circuit of disappointment, discouragement and despair.

Now in our normal every-day-life, we try to prepare for expected events. We check the weather forecast and dress appropriately. Because we’re aware that balanced nutritional meals aid growth and repair of our bodies and minimises our risk to disease, we try to eat sensibly. And because we know which jobs attract a higher salary or enables us to serve others, if opportunity affords, we study and choose our jobs/careers accordingly.

As Christians, we know (or should know) that we have an Enemy.

Well, guess what enemies do.

They oppose us! They seek to undermine us. They do their utmost to discourage us.

Given this reality, are we putting the same kind of forethought and planning into the success of our spiritual progress, as we do with our secular lives? Do we have a game plan for dealing with the Enemy of our soul? Are we spiritually prepared to deal with the setbacks in life when they occur?

Thankfully, we have someone on our side, who is able to cause all things (the good, the bad and the ugly challenges of life), to work together for our benefit and good. But the three members of the Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit), will not barge into our lives uninvited. Jesus himself tells us that he stands at the door of our hearts and knocks.

Women of Warfare friends and followers, prayer should be our game plan. Prayer should be the practical expression of our forethought and considered plan, to emerge from any contrary circumstance, as victorious overcomers. Prayer opens the door to the three members of the Godhead, so they can work their magic in our lives.

So, have you opened the door?

If you are currently walking that treadmill of disappointment, discouragement and defeat, may I offer you some encouragement today?

Don’t allow people, or circumstances, or negative thinking to make you a hopeless victim. Choose to be a faith-filled victor.

Decide. Plan. Then pray.

Live your life as a victorious overcomer!

With much love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Would you like to purchase a resource that could help you prepare for life’s challenges and which enables you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

  

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here; E-book: click here

 

Did you find this post helpful? I’d love to hear your thoughts in a comment box below.

Is there someone you know who could benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

 

How to Move from Victim to Victor (Part 2)

 The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Pixabay.com

 

Hello dear readers,

Yesterday, I shared a somewhat different style of post and hope you found it useful, even inspirational.

For anyone who missed Part 1, you can access it here.

Now, if you’ve read my About page, you will be aware that my heart’s desire is to reach out to hurting individuals, especially wounded women. Women wounded by abuse, malicious gossip, rejection, or any other kind of mistreatment. Women who because of their negative life experiences (which have led to negative emotional responses), find themselves within a vicious cycle of perpetual victimhood.

Having been one such woman, I want to see other females who’ve been emotionally wounded (particularly Christian women), freed from Satan’s lies and deception. I want to see such women rise up in God’s strength and power and take back the ground they have lost.

And I want to see these women, having turned around their lives, having ditched their victim mentality, look towards inspiring others… motivating others… and supporting their wounded sisters in Christ. I want to see them helping broken or despondent women become victorious overcomers, enabling them to reign over their circumstances, enforce Christ’s victory in their lives and in the lives of their loved ones.

Yesterday, we looked at a strategy for transforming negative mind-sets, through regular confession of God’s Word.

Today, I’d like to help you with looking at a few God-empowering scriptures, in order to kick-start your new way of thinking and being.

May I encourage you to write out at least one or two of the following scriptures on postcards and carry them around with you? Memorise them, even personalise them. And every chance you get, review them.

Choose one or two of the following, which resonates with you and start to read them aloud to yourself every day, even 2-3 times per day if possible. Of course you may have your own favourite scriptures, which you can use instead.

• Ephesians 2:10
• Psalm 139:14
• Philippians 1:6
• 2 Timothy 1:7
• Isaiah 41:10

In order to show you how to personalise your chosen scriptures, here’s an example of what I did when I undertook this process, using Isaiah 41:10.

I thank you Father God for your Word which says I should not fear because you are with me. I need not be dismayed because you are my God. I thank you for your promise to strengthen me and help me. And I thank you for upholding me with your righteous right hand.

 Or you can personalise this verse another way:

Carol, [substitute with your name] God’s Word says you should not fear because He is with you. He says you need not be dismayed because He is your God. In fact, Carol, God has promised to strengthen and help you and to uphold you with His righteous right hand.

Well, that’s it! So simple, yet highly effective.

Before I close, allow me to bless you with the following prayer:

For whomever this applies 

I commit you and any circumstance you may be currently battling with, into our Father God’s loving hands.

I ask that He enlighten the eyes of your understanding so that you see yourself as He sees you, so that you might know that He has equipped and enabled you with every required resource, to be able to walk as a victorious over-comer.

May God’s good and perfect will be done both within and through your life. May He manifest His miraculous power within your circumstances. May He strengthen you daily, in your inner being. And may He astound and delight you by doing exceedingly abundantly above anything you could possibly ask for, or dream about.

I ask this in faith and in the mighty, matchless name of Jesus. Amen.

 

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

 

Women of Warfare followers and visitors, have a wonderfully blessed and victorious week!

 With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

 

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life?

Petitions From My Heart is just such a resource. You may purchase a copy by right-clicking one of the links below.

 

 

 

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here; E-book: click here

 

I hope you found this post useful. Please share your response in a comment box below.

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How to Move from Victim to Victor (Part 1)

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Gerd Altmann at Pixabay.com

 

Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.

Harvey Fierstein

 

Dear friend and follower,

Did you know that regular confession of God’s Word yields desired results – abundant blessings, favour, guidance, protection, success, VICTORY?

This is why Jesus died – to destroy the works of the devil, so we may enjoy a God-glorifying and victorious life. (Luke 1:78-79)

Now, you need to be warned that regular negative confession will also work in reverse. If (for example), you keep saying: I’m such a loser! My life is such a mess! – guess what? You will have exactly what you consistently say. What you confess is what you’ll possess!

So what makes the difference?

Personal choice! You can choose to confess God’s Word, or choose to confess your negative experiences and feelings.

Do your circumstances make you feel like a victim?

Believe me, I know from personal experience that nobody wants to feel that they are a victim and not many would wish to even admit that they are one.

Perhaps we should look at what exactly defines a victim.

Dictionary.com gives the following definitions:

a person who suffers from a destructive or injurious action or agency:

(as in a victim of an automobile accident)

OR

a person who is deceived or cheated, as by his or her own emotions or ignorance, by the dishonesty of others, or by some impersonal agency:

(e.g. a victim of misplaced confidence; the victim of a swindler; a victim of an optical illusion).

 There are 2 further definitions but for the purposes of this post, I’m interested only in the two given above.

So, now we’ve established what defines a victim, where do you stand?

Are you a victim?

Are you tired of being, or feeling like a victim?

Are you wondering how you can change the status quo?

Did you answer: Yes! Yes! And yes!?

Well dear friend(s) God wants the same thing for you.

If you are earnestly seeking to change your status from perpetual victim to triumphant victor, to victorious over-comer, then I’ve good news for you. There’s a fool-proof strategy. Here’s how!

 

It’s Not a Magic Formula!

Now, I’m happy to share some keys with you but please don’t expect a magic formula!

Don’t expect your position to change overnight. You will have to be determined and you will have to work at it.

Okay I’m in – what do I need to do?

First off, you need to start with the Word of God.

You need to read it, believe it and speak it! And it is the constant speaking, the regular act of confessing God’s Word in faith, which will change your life, change your behaviour and change your perspective, thus changing your status from victim to victor, from underdog to over-comer.

Remember, as the saying goes: “those who say they can’t and those who say they can, are both right!” Or to put it another way: “what you confess is what you’ll possess!”

Not keen on quotes? Or do you prefer to have a scripture to support this claim?

No problem! I do have a supporting scripture for you:

But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach):

 That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

 For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

(Romans 10:8-10 NKJV)

 

You may well be accustomed to hearing this portion of scripture used in the context of soul-winning and therefore directed at unbelievers. If so, perhaps you are now feeling confused.

 Don’t be!

Yes, this is a scripture shared with unbelievers, in order to bring them to Christ but remember dear friend that God’s Word is multi-faceted. To relegate these verses as useful for soul-winning purposes only, is to make a grave mistake.

So how else should I see it?

As a living, active and powerful seed capable of changing the lives of those towards whom it has been directed, whether Christian or non-Christian.

I believe this passage of scripture represents the secret to walking as a victorious overcomer and enjoying the benefits of salvation as God’s rightful heir. I believe that if you do as it says, eventually your undesirable circumstances will change.

Let me explain.

 

Change Your Default Setting!

Firstly, you will note that you are being asked to confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus. If we are taking this passage out of the soul-winning context, what does this mean?

It means you are to confess or speak the Word of God regularly.

In John 1:1 it talks about the Word. From this verse’s context we know that the Word being spoken about here is a person. As you read on to verse 11, we learn that this Word became flesh. We realise that the Word being spoken of here is none other than Jesus. To confess the Lord Jesus therefore, is to confess (speak in agreement with) God’s Word.

Want an example of how this works? Okay then!

Say something happens which leaves you feeling a victim. You begin to meditate on what happened and how you feel. Perhaps you have a catalogue of other occurrences which you now dredge up. You start speaking about what has happened to upset you. To others. To yourself.

And the more you dwell on it, or talk about it, the more upset you get and the worse you feel.

STOP!

Change your strategy. Have a scripture verse or various verses that you can recall and reflect upon and speak to yourself (preferably out loud).

For instance, instead of thinking, believing and saying that you are a victim, a nonentity or whatever description, you, others, or the devil decides to tag you with, say what God says about you or your situation, regardless of how you may currently feel.

Every single time that negative thought or memory comes to mind or heart, slap it down with the Word of God.

As you continue to do this, God’s Word then becomes the truth that you confess (speak) and believe in your heart. The more you do this, the more the old negative thought and belief is displaced, until suddenly, the new confession, the new belief system has taken root, and next time a similar situation presents itself to you, your new positive response becomes automatic, rather than laboured or contrived.

Let’s look again at the scripture passage above. See the words I’ve underlined?

Verse 8: mouth then heart (i.e. confess/believe).

Verse 9: mouth then heart (i.e. confess/believe).

Verse 10: heart then mouth (i.e. believe/confess).

This implies (and I know it’s true because I’ve proven it in my own life), that if you speak the Word of God often enough—to yourself and over your circumstances—you will move from merely parroting the scriptures and desperately wanting to believe, to a position of confidently and consistently confessing biblical truth.

You will now be confessing (speaking) something that bears witness with your spirit, something that you truly believe and (as we see from verse 10), because our hearts and confession have now changed (but not necessarily our circumstances), our confession of God’s Word becomes instinctive and authentic.

Try it!

God’s Word is the most powerful weapon you have and it is right there within reach. Put it in your mind and heart.

Read it. Believe it. Speak it—regularly!

In my next post Part (2), I will share some supporting scriptures which anyone with a victim mentality may use as a starting point.

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

 

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

 

Did you enjoy this post? Please share your thoughts in a comment box below. Do you know someone who would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

A Call for Creative Carers

CC0 image comes courtesy of Pexels.com

 

I came across this 2mins video yesterday and just felt I had to share it with you all. If you’ve seen it already forgive me – maybe God wants to draw this to your attention once again.

It would be easy to make the Covid-19 virus situation turn you into a victim. Don’t! Resist the temptation to complain and/or criticise. Instead, be a part of the solution. Be an instrument of blessing.

Whether through your prayers, and/or through practical, loving action, become a burden-bearer, a joy-disperser, a victorious overcomer.

 

Women of Warfare followers and visitors, I pray you are keeping safe and well, and taking advantage of any lockdown situation you may be in, to draw closer to God.

Have a blessed week!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

 

Did you enjoy this post? If so, please share your thoughts in a comment box below. Do you know someone who would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

 

A Gospel According to Moi?

Q:        What is Five Minute Friday?

A:        It is a 5min free write blog event hosted by Kate Motaung. Every Thursday Kate announces a one-word prompt at 10pm EST. The link-up is open for a full week, until the following Thursday evening. For further details on how to participate click HERE. 

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

 

Five Minute Friday Prompt: ANOTHER

It took me a little while to come up with something to fit this theme – ANOTHER!

In the beginning nothing suggested itself to me. Nothing came immediately to mind. What can I write about that would be personally meaningful to me as the writer and to you, as the reader?

I looked up the Oxford dictionary meaning to see if this would give me some inspiration and do you know what? It did!

I saw that one of the meanings of this word is: something different and then Paul’s words came to mind about “another gospel”. Now I have an idea of where to take this theme!

Do I, do you, believe or live our lives according to another gospel?

A gospel not according to Christ, or even according to Matthew, Mark, Luke and John but according to my, or your convenience. A gospel that fits in with our ideas of who God is and who we want him to be, not as he actually is. And a gospel that makes less demand upon us than that which the true gospel requires.

No?

You think?

Let’s see.

For instance, the gospel according to Jesus demands that we forgive. Not just once, or even three times, but 70 times 70!

END OF 5 MINS

So, if you examined your life, if you were absolutely honest with yourself (not the sanitised honesty that you present for the scrutiny of others), but the true, raw honesty of “it-is-what-it-is!” would you emerge squeaky clean?

I know when I look at my heart and assess myself in the light of God’s Word in this particular regard, the picture I see is not so pretty. It’s a picture marred by the stain of an unforgiving spirit. A picture that presents a detailed record of wrongs against others. A picture that ought to have been cleaned with the emulsion of forgiveness, mercy and compassion and should have been repainted with the brushes of obedience.

Instead it’s a picture that has built up a steady film of grime and dust. And instead of that picture being framed by the beauty of humility and mercy, it is stretched upon the canvas of a critical and judgmental spirit.

This picture is the result of a gospel according to moi… a gospel according to Carol. A gospel that is man-made and mixed, prompted by the devil’s goading input, along with my rebellious and self-righteous response to those who offend me.

Another gospel!

But as I examine my heart and life in the uncompromising light of God’s Word, as I look within my conscience at the picture of Jesus hanging upon his cross, as I regard the image of his marred face, his broken body, as I recall all that he suffered, so that I can enjoy a new destiny, a happy-ever-after scenario of complete and utter peace, yeah, everlasting joy in Heaven, I feel convicted. I feel ashamed.

How could I continue to behave like the protagonist in Christ’s parable of the ungrateful servant? How could I fail to forgive those who have trespassed against me, when God my Father, when Christ my Saviour, has forgiven and continues to forgive me of so much more?

No matter how big, how deep the wounds of those offences, what deception, what seed of arrogance could cause me to choose this other gospel—a gospel according to my sanctimonious standards, a standard which fell far, far short of God’s measure of righteousness in the first place? A standard which failed to satisfy God’s wrath, who required the shedding of innocent blood, the burden-bearing of an entire world’s sin and depravity before he could be appeased, before the atonement for Adam’s act of treason could be accepted?

Father-God forgive me (there I go again – needing forgiveness!).

Lord Jesus forgive me. Thank you for your wonderful example of forgiveness towards those who hated, humiliated and killed you.

Holy Spirit help me. Remind me to take up my cross and die daily to the ungracious demands of my flesh, to my unmerciful requirements for personal vengeance, to my unforgiving heart.

Help me to walk God’s highway of holiness with humility and help me to paint a Christ-like image over the offences of others, even if it requires me to do so, seventy times seventy each day, even each hour!

Friends and followers, have a blessed weekend and may God’s divine peace and protection rest upon you and upon your loved ones, as we negotiate the paths of these unprecedented times.

Best wishes,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here; E-book: click here

 

Did you enjoy reading this post? If so, please share your thoughts in a comment box below. Do you know someone who would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

***       ***       ***       ***       ***

 

Are You Sleeping?

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Pixabay.com

 

 

Then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and He said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.”

And He took Peter, James, and John with Him and He began to be troubled and deeply distressed.

Then He said to them, “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful, even to death. Stay here and watch.”

He went a little farther, and fell on the ground, and prayed that if it were possible, the hour might pass from Him.

And He said, “Abba, Father, all things are possible for You. Take this cup away from Me, nevertheless, not what I will, but what You will.”

Then He came and found them sleeping, and said to Peter, “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour?”

“Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Again He went away and prayed, and spoke the same words.

And when He returned, He found them asleep again, for their eyes were heavy; and they did not know what to answer Him.

Then He came the third time and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? It is enough! The hour has come; behold, the Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners.

(Mark 14:32-41 NKJV)

The above scripture passage reveals that Christ’s disciples had been asked to watch and pray, in support of Jesus, while he battled with fear, the prospect of God’s utter abandonment and other conflicting thoughts, in the Garden of Gethsemane. Instead they fell asleep.

On reading this account, my mind turned to the present world crisis with the Corona-virus. I wondered how many of God’s people recognise the season in which we are living and are taking advantage of the enforced period of self-isolation, or lock-down and are using some of that precious time to seek God, as never before, and to pray.

Because my dear friends, there has never been a richer opportunity for us as children of God, to spend quality time in fellowship with our Heavenly Father and in prayer. Unexpected yes! But opportune nonetheless!

Those measures where people are being forced to isolate, forced to take time off work, or work from home, represent unprecedented opportunities for each of us who are alive and well, to appeal to God for his merciful intervention.

My dear friend, if you have not grasped this, then you are asleep spiritually. So my question to you is this:

Why are you sleeping?

Is it because of, slothfulness, selfishness or sorrow?

Your nation needs you! So wake up from your spiritual slumber party and pray! [tweet this]

Sorrow

Perhaps you are sorrowing over the way your life has suddenly changed with the event of the coronavirus pandemic. Perhaps you are disappointed that your plans have gone kaput – just like that!

The disciples had just been told that their world was to be turned upside down. They’d been told that their beloved master and friend was about to be killed. Worse still, that one of them, was going to betray him. The disciples were sleeping for sorrow because their plans, their hopes, their dreams were about to be upturned… because they didn’t know what to do, or what to say.

Are you sleeping for sorrow?

Selfishness

But perhaps you are sleeping spiritually because you are too self-absorbed to recognise the time, the season we are living in, or worse still, you do actually recognise this, but feel too depressed, or disappointed with, or defeated by life to do anything constructive about it. Perhaps you are thinking let others get on with it!

Then again, perhaps you could care less!

Dear reader, if you are a child of God, then responsibility for your life, your family, your nation, belongs to you. Jesus has equipped us with the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit knows God’s will, so ask him to help you, ask him to guide your prayers.

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.”

― John F. Kennedy

The unprecedented lockdowns provide opportunities for those who are alive and well to appeal to God for his merciful intervention. [tweet this]

Slothfulness

And then again, if the truth were known, perhaps you are just plain lazy (sorry to be so blunt!).

You are used to taking the path of least resistance. You expect other people to step up to the plate and keep your world ticking over nicely, thank you!

To get out of your bed of slumber, or rise from your comfy sofa of self-indulgence, is just too much trouble. Your laissez-faire policy in life has always worked for you before now, so why behave any differently?

Why?

Because these are unprecedented times and unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures. As in the natural world, so in the spiritual world.

To all those who are asleep spiritually, God is saying to you today: Arise! Watch and pray!

 

…praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

(Ephesians 6:18 NKJV)

 

Beloved friend or follower, if you are sleeping spiritually during this global crisis, wake up from your spiritual slumber party and pray! Your nation needs you!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

 

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

What’s your response to my post? Please share your thoughts in a comment box below.

Do you know someone who would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

 

An Easter Tribute To Love

 

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Today is Easter Sunday! Hallelujah!

Hallelujah! Jesus is alive. Jesus, my Saviour has been raised from the dead and now he lives for ever more. Now he is seated in heaven at the right hand of our Father. Now he ever lives to make intercession for me. And don’t I need it?!

But I don’t want to focus on my need today. I want to focus on my precious Father-God, my precious Saviour, and my precious Comforter and Counsellor, the inimitable Holy Spirit!

Thank you one and all for your presence in my life. Thank you dear Father-God for making me worthy to come into your presence and fellowship with you. And thank you Lord Jesus for all that you have done, to make it possible for me to be reconciled to God. Thank you for rescuing me from the clutches of Satan and redeeming me from the curse of the Law. Thank you for your obedience to the Father’s will, even to the point of death.

Hallelujah!

O Lord Jesus, I can never ever, ever thank you enough. I can never ever know and understand just how much you suffered and endured on my behalf. And when I think of this, I feel ashamed for the times in the past when I have been outraged, bitter and resentful, acted ugly because of the things I have suffered.

Ok, so they may have been unjust. But the difference between me and you, is that you have never ever sinned, never ever done anything wrong. You were and are perfect. If there is anyone in this entire universe who did not deserve unjust treatment, it was you. And yet you willingly took it. And took it without saying a word to those who meted out the false accusations, the insults, the mocking jibes, the physical assault and abuse. Nothing!

But I, who was born in sin and shaped in iniquity had plenty of things to say when I suffered. Forgive me!

Thank you for your wonderful and exemplary conduct. Thank you for your strength of character. Thank you for your incredible, extravagant, unconditional love. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

I love you. I appreciate you. I commit afresh, my life into your hands today. Take my life Lord and let it be, consecrated only to thee. Take my moments and take my days and let them flow in ceaseless praise to you, and to your Father, our Father.

Thank you for all you have done. And dear precious Saviour, I thank you that after all that you’ve accomplished, all that you’ve achieved, you are not resting on your laurels. You are still working, still serving. Because now that you are alive, now that you ever live, you are making continual intercession for me. I so need it! And I am so grateful.

Thank you for being the High Priest of my confessions of faith. Thank you for your precious efficacious blood, which speaks on my behalf from the Mercy Seat in heaven. Thank you for the loving eloquence of your blood, which effectively pleads for mercy, grace and forgiveness. Oh, how much better, how much nobler does your blood speak for me, than Abel’s blood, which had spoken against Cain when it cried out for vengeance!

I love you Jesus.

And I love you Father God. It was your brilliant plan. It was your wisdom and justice tempered with mercy that ensured it was executed. It was your miraculous intervention that implanted the seed of your Word within the Virgin Mary. It was your angelic protection that shielded Jesus from King Herod’s murderous edict. It was your ‘foolishness’ that conceived the idea of that accursed and monstrous cross. It was your awesome and miraculous power that raised Jesus from the dead. Hallelujah!

And you did it all for me!

You did it for the entire world, so that whoever would believe, and whoever would accept what Christ has done for them, could indeed be saved, aye, could be rescued from eternal damnation.

Such inexplicable, indescribable, incomparable love!

Father God, Lord Jesus, Precious Holy Spirit, I bow my heart and my will in reverence before you.

Triune Godhead, you are worthy to be praised. You are worthy to be glorified. You are worthy to be honoured.

Lord Jesus, be magnified today, this Easter Sunday, as I exalt your awesome name!

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

Happy Easter!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

 

I hope you were blessed today by reading this post. If so, please share your response in a comment box below. Do you know someone who would also enjoy and benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

 

An Easter Sunday Prayer

 

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Who can compare with you Almighty God? There is no one like you. You are awesome. You are supreme. You are omnipotent.

I join with the psalmist in saying: ‘what is man that you are mindful of him?’ Yet I am so glad that you not only loved this world and loved me but you also sent your Son to this earth to die for us, making it possible for whomsoever believes and whomsoever will, to be reconciled to you… to become intimately acquainted with and worship you.

Today, I celebrate the resurrection of your Holy Child Jesus from the dead, which bears testimony to your miraculous power.

Hallelujah!

Lord Jesus, I acknowledge you as the Alpha and Omega, The Beginning and the End, the First and the Last, the one who was dead but is now alive and lives for evermore.

Hallelujah!

Holy Spirit, thank you for your anointing that teaches me. Grant me revelation knowledge regarding the outworking of this same resurrection power that resides within me. Help me to walk with confidence in this newness of life. Enable me to walk in the authority and dynamic power of Jesus, my Saviour, my Lord and my soon-coming King. Amen.

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

The above prayer is an extract from my book, Petitions From My Heart. If you are looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life, please don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

 

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

Did you enjoy reading this post? If so, please share your thoughts in a comment box below. Do you know someone who would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

 

An Easter Petition

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I am sure it would not have escaped the notice of many of you who regularly read my posts, that I published a book of prayers last year, called Petitions From My Heart.

The prayer below is an excerpt from this book, which I share with you all, given the season of Easter.

I hope you will be blessed in your reading but I also hope this excerpt will serve as a sample of my book’s content and (if you have not already done so), will encourage you to explore its content further, even perhaps spur you towards a purchase!

Happy Easter!

 

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

 

Father God,

I thank you for sending Jesus to this earth to die for me and for every individual in the world, so that we might be redeemed from the hand of the Enemy and redeemed from the curse of the law.

Thank you for your perfectly executed plan, which not only satisfied your wrath against sin and demonstrated your mercy in providing an atonement but also outwitted the Prince of Darkness and his cohorts. Hallelujah!

Lord Jesus, you willingly relinquished your position of majestic power and prestige. Thank you for humbling yourself and assuming the limitations of human flesh in order to both identify with me and implement the will of the Father.

Triumphant Saviour, as I reflect on how you were betrayed and delivered into the hands of the Scribes and Pharisees, help me to learn from your exemplary conduct and your total commitment to the Father’s will. I thank you for your intercessory role and ministry and I pray your petitions will pave a path of humility in my life, enabling me to follow your example.

Holy Spirit, I acknowledge you as the one sent to walk alongside and assist me. Help me to walk worthy of the vocation to which I have been called. When occasion demands, bring back to my remembrance the relevant scriptures and motivate me to put my fleshly inclinations and desires to death and faithfully follow Christ. I thank you Holy Spirit for empowering me to take up my cross daily and follow Jesus, my Lord and Saviour. Amen.

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

 

Did you find the above post useful? Are you looking for a resource that will help and encourage you to develop a consistent and confident prayer life? If so, don’t hesitate to check out the links below.

 

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

I’d love to know your response to this post. Please share your thoughts in a comment box below. And if you know anyone who would benefit from a boost to their prayer life, please don’t hesitate to recommend my book and share the purchase links. Thank you.

 

 

 

F.A.Q.s

 

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Unless you have just escaped from the dark ages, I suspect you will know what is meant by FAQs. If not, please click here for an explanation.

Now, for some reason, in the early hours of the morning one day this week, the acronym floated into my mind and I began to wonder, if God had a certain set of questions that He frequently ponders and would love to ask us, as his children, as Christ’s followers, what would they be?

I came up with the following and hope they give you pause for thought.

1. Where are you?

This is the question God asked Adam and Eve after they sinned and hid from his presence.

Now, I am not accusing anyone of sinning, so please don’t get uptight and click away!

What I am wanting to know is, does God have occasion to ask you the above question – Where are you?

Is he often waiting for you to come visit and fellowship with him, yet ends up being disappointed?

To be invited to come into the Holy of Holies, into God’s very throne-room, is a wonderful privilege and an honour. Are you regularly snubbing the one who has secured a free entrance ticket for you, at a very high price (the unimaginable suffering and death of his Son)?

Could you improve on your visitation periods?

2. Where are my Elijahs?

Are you concerned about the moral and spiritual decline of this world? Yes?

Then what are you doing about it?

“Me?” you ask. “What do you expect me to do about it?”

It’s not what I expect you to do dear reader, it’s about what God expects you to do.

In 2 Chronicles 7:14 he says this:

If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

Again, in the book of James, we read that the “effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” Elijah is given as an example of someone with an effective prayer life (see James 5:16b-17).

Will you be an Elijah?

3. Can I count of you?

So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but found no one.

(Ezekiel 22:30 NKJV)

Remember Abraham? He had such a great relationship with God that the Lord felt he could not destroy Sodom & Gomorrah without telling him first. It may have been because He knew Abraham’s nephew Lot, was living there. Once Abraham became aware of God’s plan, he sought to dissuade God by asking him to preserve the nation if there were at least 10 righteous people within it.

I believe if Abraham had continued negotiating and asked God to spare this wicked nation for just one righteous individual (Lot), God would have done so.

Abraham was not only deemed to be a friend of God but he is also considered to be our forefather of faith. As his offspring, are you prepared to emulate him and stand in the gap for others, who are in need of God’s grace and mercy?

4. Are you prepared to trust me in the long haul?

The above question refers to a parable Jesus told, encouraging his followers that they should always pray and not give up. The parable is about a widow who seeks the intervention of an unjust judge. This man had no regard for God, nor did he care about the woman’s plight. However, because of her persistence, he eventually gave in and granted her the justice she sought. If you are not familiar with this story, you may read about it in Luke 18:1-8.

I wonder, when Jesus shared this parable, was he concerned that people gave up too easily? Is there a prayer request you have abandoned because God has not answered it within your required deadline?

Do you have confidence in God’s Word, or are you lacking in persistent faith?

5. Do you believe that I love you and have your best interests as a primary concern upon my heart?

I am sure you have experienced disappointments in life. In fact, I’m positive there are things which have happened to you that do not reflect the abundant or victorious lifestyle you’d expected to enjoy, as a born-again Christian.

How do you feel about these instances? Do you harbour fears that God has abandoned you, or does not care?

Listen to what he has to say to you from his Word:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, who are the called according to his purpose.

(Roman 8:28 NKJV)

Joseph found himself in prison on a charge of rape, even though he was innocent. He would never have landed up there in the first place, if it were not for the malice of his own brothers, who sold him into slavery. And all this happened, despite God revealing to Joseph that his destiny was to be a prominent leader.

We know that all ended well, not just for Joseph but for his entire family and for his host country, Egypt, when a severe famine hit the land. This, and other similar stories in the Bible should encourage us that God is able to cause all things to work together for our good.

Do you feel forgotten? If so, ignore your feelings and trust God’s Word.

Commit your concerns into our heavenly Father’s hands. Trust Him to work out his purpose for your benefit and for the blessing of others around you.

Commit (in other words pray).

Trust.

And then rest!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

 

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You Are Priceless!

 

Do you know that you are God’s masterpiece?

What do you think this means for you as an individual?

Oscar Wilde, gives an appropriate response in the following quote ascribed to him:

Be yourself – everyone else is already taken!

This world is filled with people who do not appreciate their uniqueness. They do not believe they have anything worth offering to others. And there are those who are so besotted with the image of another that they seek to replicate him/her.

I am sure you’ve seen on stage or TV (if not in real life), those who earn money from being look- a-likes, or who pattern themselves on well-known celebrities, such as Marilyn Munro, Michael Jackson or Elvis Presley.

There are even people who will buy the same product used or worn by a celebrity they admire, because they somehow wish to emulate the lifestyle of whomever they deem to be cool, or successful, or hard, or whatever.

Women of Warfare followers, whom are you emulating?

A self-help book I’d read a while ago, mentioned a certain young man who’d started a new job and then began dressing and acting like his new work colleagues, even though the way they dressed and the cars they drove etc., was not a fit for his personality. In the end, he did not recognise himself!

And what about the marketing gurus, who sell idealised beauty, holidays, homes and lifestyles? Now there’s absolutely nothing wrong with following the lead of somebody you admire, or seeking to improve yourself, but to do so to the extent that you become a fake copy of someone else, rather than enjoy and express your own authenticity, is too, too sad.

It’s sad for your poor self-esteem, which has been squeezed into the mould of that person you’d much prefer to be. It’s sad for the people around you, who do not get to benefit from the unique gift you are to the world around you. And it’s mega sad for our wonderful Father-God, who took great care in designing and creating you.

Are you guilty of thinking, or feeling, or even saying that you are not good enough?

What has motivated those thoughts or feelings?

Is it peer pressure, or insecurity?

Can I tell you that the worth of anything is determined by the price someone is willing to pay for it? Well, based on that premise, guess what? You are invaluable!

Jesus gave his life for you. Jesus shed his precious, incorruptible blood for you.

…you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold… but with the precious blood of Christ… (1 Peter 1:18-19)

 

You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of men (1 Corinthians 7:23)

 

So, don’t allow people (your peers, the media, even your enemies!), to dictate whom you should be, how you should behave, what you should buy etc., particularly if doing so cuts across the grain of your own authenticity.

Your uniqueness is God’s gift to you and how you express that uniqueness is your gift to those around you. [click to tweet]

Isn’t it about time you unwrapped yourself?

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

 

Did you enjoy reading this post? If so, please share your thoughts in a comment box below. Do you know someone who would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

 

Tomorrow Never Comes!

The above CC0 Image comes courtesy of Gerd Altmann at Pixabay.com

 

Q: What is Five Minute Friday?

A: It is a 5min free write blog event hosted by Kate Motaung. Every Thursday Kate announces a one-word prompt on her blog at 10pm EST. The link-up is open for a full week, until the following Thursday evening. For further details on how to participate please visit her blog at: Heading Home.

***       ***       ***       ***       ***

 

FIVE-MINUTE FRIDAY: Word prompt – TOMORROW

My immediate thought when I saw this prompt was of a title: Tomorrow Never Comes. I thought it was a book I’d once read by Sidney Sheldon, but a quick check shows me I am wrong.

My mind then turned to Pharaoh in the book of Exodus, who had suffered a plague of frogs, yet when Moses asked him when he’d like this plague to stop, he answered: “Tomorrow”.

Can you believe it?

Why would anyone who had suffered a nasty plague not want it to stop immediately? What on earth was he thinking?

Which then led me to think about procrastination and my problem with it. I’ve tried to break free. I think I have improved. But it is still an issue.

Take this Covid-19 virus that has descended upon and changed our lives. There were things I’d wanted to do and could very well have done, before this plague came on the scene.

Now that it’s here, I cannot do these things. Not without incurring risk. Because it involves going out and mixing with people in close proximity. I cannot, and do not wish to take this chance. Besides, measures are now in place which restrict the movements of UK citizens, so I couldn’t, even if I wanted to.

So now I’ll have to settle for second best. I’ll have to figure out a way to proceed, without doing what I should have (and could have) done earlier.

Procrastination costs. And the time and opportunity that has been lost, cannot be redeemed.

(End of 5 Mins)

Procrastination has been my unfortunate song for as long as I can remember. But I so hate those lyrics. I absolutely despise the melody. I no longer want procrastination to be the rhythm of my life. In fact, you can read my post here where I made public my decision to break with this tiresome habit.

God says we are to redeem the time. I often believe for, and ask the Holy Spirit to help me redeem (make effective) whatever time I may have left. And when I ask this, I mean in terms of how long I have left to live in this world. I mean in terms of available time left, to work on my writing projects. I mean in terms of the time I have left, to network with others, to sow seeds of loving kindness, mercy and forgiveness, or to serve his purposes.

I feel the need to do this, because I often take time for granted, along with the opportunity it affords. I’m prone to forget that any presumed window of opportunity is not guaranteed to remain open, just to fit into my schedule. A schedule of “tomorrow”, which never comes!

As we have seen with the Corona-virus, nobody knows what’s around the corner, which could completely scupper our prior plans.

People die, or leave your life for various reasons. Situations change. Things you can be depending upon, may suddenly be taken out of the equation. And then the opportunity to do that which you wanted to do, or which God had asked you to do, disappears. Puff!

This happened to me recently.

I waited to do something good for someone. I delayed because of a mixture of procrastination and hard-heartedness. I’d failed to act because I allowed offence to lodge within my heart and dictate my inclinations.

And now, the opportunity to show God that my love for him, exceeds my desire to satisfy capricious whims, has gone. Puff! Because the person in question has now departed from this world.

So, now I have to deal with the fact that I allowed stubbornness to stop me from reaching out, offering an olive branch, renewing acquaintances.

I acted no differently to Pharaoh. Instead of grabbing the opportunity to be rid of the emotional frog in my life, and be free from accusatory thoughts and wrong attitudes that plagued me, I procrastinated. I held onto them until “tomorrow”.

In my heart, I was resisting God’s Word and clear requirement. With that resistance, my mind whispered “tomorrow” whilst my stubbornness decided “Not yet!”

God warns us about rebellion. He says that those who are often reproved but harden their hearts, will be cut off without remedy (Proverbs 29:1).

Of course, I don’t want this to be my lot. I don’t want the story of my life to be written with the quill and ink of selfish and disobedient conduct.

God’s Word also warns that “…behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (2 Corinthians 6:2 KJV). There is a finite window of opportunity for you and me to walk in God’s ways… to be obedient to his will. Nobody knows when that window will close. So, waiting until tomorrow, a tomorrow that may never come, could work to our detriment.

If you are procrastinating about something you know you should do, or something God has instructed you to do, please pay heed dear reader, and learn a valuable lesson from me.

I pray for myself and for anyone else who struggles with similar issues. I pray that God will work within our hearts… that he will change us and bring us to that place where we both desire to obey His will, and actually do so, without delay.

Wishing you a peace-filled and victorious week.

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

 

Did you enjoy reading this post? If so, please share your thoughts in a comment box below. Do you know someone who would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

Today’s Quote — Soul Gatherings

Time is a flowing river. Happy those who allow themselves to be carried, unresisting, with the current. They float through easy days. They live, unquestioning, in the moment. ~ Christopher Morley ~ ____________

via Today’s Quote — Soul Gatherings

What’s your “P” Philosophy?

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Pixabay.com

 

Whenever you are feeling discouraged, disappointed or disillusioned with life, what do you do?

When life fails to go your way, or when people mistreat you, how do you habitually behave?

In that hour when emotions are high, when feelings of anger, frustration or failure reign, what will be your default position?

How we choose to behave during such times, demonstrates the level of our spiritual growth and maturity. Make no mistake, as a child of God, both Satan and the Holy Spirit will be standing by, seeking to influence your behaviour.

The voice we choose to listen to, will determine whether we emerge as perpetual victims or perceptive victors. [click to tweet]

In 1 Samuel 25:10-13, we read an account of how David was ill-treated and insulted by Nabal. David took offence and fully intended to wreak vengeance. If it were not for the quick thinking of this churlish man’s wife, David would have been guilty of killing not only Nabal but his entire unsuspecting household—including people who were innocent, who had done nothing wrong!

Anger and a desire for revenge, had clouded David’s judgment.

In comparison, Job demonstrated an admirable standard of emotional maturity. After losing all of his ten children, his considerable wealth and even his health, Job’s wife counselled him to: “Curse God and die!”

Job however, chose to adopt a mature philosophical outlook. He said:

“…Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?”

(Job 2:10 NKJV)

Unlike David, Job chose not to listen to the Enemy’s suggestion, or pander to any sense of outrage, or to feelings of self-pity. He ignored his wife’s blasphemous suggestion, chose not to sin with his lips, nor to charge God with wrong, but to worship the Lord (see Job 2:20-22).

Dear reader, of the two examples mentioned above, which are you more likely to do?

Women of Warfare follower, you can choose your spiritual development philosophy this day, this hour, this season. Will you pity-party or pray?

With love,

 

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

 

 

Mend What Is Broken: A Prayer for Health — The Daily Inspo

Heavenly Father, I call on you right now in a special way. It is through your power that I was created. Every breath I take, every morning I wake, and every moment of every hour, I live under your power. Father, I ask you now to touch me with that same power. For if you […]

via Mend What Is Broken: A Prayer for Health — The Daily Inspo

I came across this beautiful prayer earlier this year and had wanted to share it but completely forgot.

I think it especially relevant now, in this time of fear and uncertainty (what with the spread of the Covid-19 virus), and I hope someone out there might find it a blessing.

Wishing you God’s peace and divine protection.

Much love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

 

Covid-19: A Prayer for Protection

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Gerd Altmann at Pixabay.com

 

The following personalised prayer and declaration is based on Psalm 91 and Luke 10:19. Please feel free to use it to pray for yourselves and your loved ones. If you do not currently have a relationship with God, or if you have been neglecting your relationship with Him, He is merciful and compassionate. All you need to do is ask his forgiveness and commit (or re-commit) your life into the safe custody of his Son, Jesus Christ.

*****       *****       *****

 

 I dwell habitually in the secret place of the Most High God. I therefore abide under the shadow of the Almighty. He is my refuge, my fortress, my God and in Him I trust.

Surely he will deliver me from unsuspected snares, plagues and pestilence (e.g. Covid-19). He will cover me with his feathers of protection and shield me with his wings of healing and deliverance. The truth of his Word will act as an impenetrable shield and sturdy buckler, deflecting any harm that comes my way.

I shall not be afraid for the terrors of the night or for arrows of affliction aimed during the day, nor for the pestilence that stalks in darkness, nor for any form of destruction that might lay waste at noonday.

Even though a thousand falls at my side, or ten thousand expires at my right hand, I shall not be affected because I have made the Lord my refuge and the Most High God, my perpetual place of habitation. Therefore no evil shall befall me, no plague (e.g. the Corona-virus) shall come near my dwelling place.

My Father-God has instructed his angels to keep watch over me and protect me in my comings and goings. If danger is near, they will bear me up in their hands and deliver me from life-threatening situations.

I have authority to tread upon the lion and adder and to trample underfoot the young lion and serpent. In accordance with Christ’s decree, I have been given authority over all the power of the Enemy and nothing shall by any means hurt or destroy me.

Because I have chosen to set and seal my heart with love and devotion towards God, he will deliver me. And because I have known his name (i.e. Jehovah-Nissi – the Lord God my banner of protection), He will set me on high, out of harm’s reach.

Whenever I call upon my Father-God in times of trouble, he will answer me. He will be with me, deliver me and honour me. And He will satisfy me with a long life, a God-quality brand of life and he will shower me with the benefits and blessings of his salvation. Amen!

Wishing God’s prevailing peace and protection for you and your loved ones.

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

 

 

Will You Please Come Home?

An Open Letter to all lost lambs and sheep who have wandered away from my flock

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Pixabay.com

 

Where are you my beloved?

I wonder if you know how much I hurt since the day you wandered away from the safety of my care. Yes, I realise you have done so because you feel hurt… because you’ve been offended… because (and my heart pains me to know this), you’ve been emotionally abused, or blatantly ignored, or marginalised, or cruelly rejected. You’ve had enough.

You have wandered away from the safety of my flock because certain shepherds, or certain church members have disappointed you, failed to live up to your new found expectations of an accepting, loving and united family of God.

And so you withdrew. You’ve withdrawn your heart, your trust and your allegiance to “the church”. You say: I want nothing more to do with those bunch of hypocrites! And believe me, I understand how you feel.

Yes, you still want to be a child of God, a disciple of Christ, but you’ve decided to do so your own way. You’ve decided to do so on your own terms. So you stay away from the religious circus and you erect your walls and barriers.

And even though outwardly there is bravado (I don’t need them), inwardly there is a gnawing resentment, and a deep untended wound because something, or someone you’d placed your trust in, let you down.

You were excited at first. After all, what could be more perfect than joining a loving community of people with good morals and virtuous spirituality? What could be more desirable than mixing with a group of friends who’d always have your back? What a breath of fresh air to be able to be yourself… to be able to confide your concerns or doubts or struggles. What a pleasure it was going to be, to mix with others who are on the same spiritual wavelength and committed to the same standards of Christ’s love. What could be more perfect?

But then the glitz rubbed off to reveal people who appear to be no better than your unsaved next door neighbours, or the ungodly colleagues at your workplace, or the unbelieving members of your family.

You had not expected to be the subject of gossip-mongers or to be propositioned by a church leader. You did not approve of “super-star” shepherds who seek celebrity status, rather than model servant-leadership. You certainly hadn’t expected there to be cliques within God’s kingdom, or worse still, to find yourself excluded. You thought you’d left that kind of thing behind when you separated yourself from the world.

You hungered to experience the supernatural power and presence of God but the most you received were invites to a happy-clappy spiritual bubble, which often burst once you left the vicinity of the church premises and left you feeling unequipped to face life’s challenges.

I understand your disillusionment.

But dear sweet child of God, I want you to know there will always be tares amongst the wheat. There will always be the imposter –v- the genuine. And there will always be the fully sold-out and on-fire believer –v- the lukewarm bench-warmer, with those who sit comfortably in between.

My dear disillusioned one, there will always be a mixture of wolves, goats, lambs and sheep amongst the members of my church. There will be those amongst my flock who get it wrong, yet are bona fide believers. They make mistakes. They are ever learning and growing. And as they learn and grow they are being transformed into my true image – not the synthetic portrait to which you were introduced when you first made my acquaintance.

My precious child, as they learn and grow, they will become that loving, holy community you so desire to be a part of and for which you had originally signed up. But my dear precious one, it takes time. It takes time to mature, just like cheese. Just like wine. And it will take every child of God (including you) to assume their rightful place in the body of Christ. It will require every child of God (including you) to submit to the process of being rubbed against one another… to be chafed and challenged… to do and die.

So I need you to come back, dear one. I want you back in the safety of my fold. I want you joined to a community of admittedly imperfect people, so that I may mature and perfect you and perfect others alongside you.

Because making that choice to come away, to segregate yourself from my family, is making a choice to place your opinions, your disgust and disappointments, your hurts and anger above my will, above my plan and purpose for your life. And whilst you stay away, that serpent (my arch-enemy), feels he has carte blanche to sift and sully you, to poison your thoughts against my people and even at times against me, to alienate and entrench you within your disappointment, hurts and resentment. Whilst you stay away dear precious one, you play into my enemy’s hands and you render yourself an orphan, you make yourself so vulnerable.

Beloved child, will you please come home? Will you return to my sheepfold? Will you let me restore and settle you into my family? Will you allow me to love you, comfort you, hold and heal you?

I do hope you will.

With my utmost, unconditional love,

 

 

 

Sent on behalf of Jesus (The Good Shepherd and Overseer of your Soul)

 

What’s your response to this post? Are you one of Christ’s lost lambs or sheep? Please share your thoughts in a comment box below. And if you know anyone to whom this message applies, then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

A God Who Sees You

 

 

I was listening to a man of God some time ago, when I heard him say:

Children will be what they see!

Now, as a child of God, as a Woman of Warfare follower, let me ask you, what do you see?

If you didn’t have good role models for parents you now have a heavenly father, so are you looking at him?

Are you seeing him?

Where are your eyes focussed?

Do you see a God who loves you so much that He sent his Son to die for you, in order to prove the depth of his love, in order to demonstrate his commitment to you?

 

Some folks see an angry God, or an unfair God, who plays favourites, or a God who’s written them off for past sins and failings, or a God who perhaps does not even notice them, let alone answer their prayers.

If you see such a God, then I can imagine it would be very hard to try and approach him, to ask his help, or even just hang out with him simply because you love and respect him. It would be hard because you do not really know Him, do not appreciate who He really is.

Hagar, was just such a woman. In Genesis 16:4-13, we read how after she began to act above her station, openly despising her barren mistress Sarai, upon reaping retribution as a result, she ran away.

Did Hagar bring this situation upon herself? Yes!

Did she deserve the punishment she received for acting so hoity-toity? Perhaps!

She was pregnant. Her master and mistress were Hagar’s only means of support and yet she ran away to a place where she had no idea how she’d survive.

Did God ignore her for being prideful and foolish? No!

In fact we read that he sought her out, spoke kindly to her, gave her a comforting and prophetic word with regard to the child she carried in her womb, then sent her back to the home from which she had just fled.

During the course of his conversation with Hagar we read: …the Lord has heard your affliction (Genesis 16:11 NKJ). I believe this was a response to Hagar’s cries of desperation and despair.

The story ends on a positive note because whether or not Hagar had a relationship with the God of her former owners before this incident, she recognised who was now addressing her personally—she saw a God who spoke directly into her situation and who was concerned about her welfare. She came away from this encounter saying in effect: “You are the God who sees” and “I have seen Him who sees me!” (verse 13)

Isn’t that a wonderful illustration of how God sees us, cares about us and desires to relate to us?

Friend and follower, let me ask you again – in terms of your relationship with God, what do you see?

If you shun God’s company because you think he is angry with you, or because you feel you have blotted your copy book, or if you are reluctant to approach a God who seems distant, harsh and uncaring, let me encourage you to think again. Those lies, those false accusations come from the Enemy. Don’t continue to listen.

If God seems distant, then let me encourage you to draw closer to him today. He promises that if you draw near to him, then he will draw closer to you.

And if you don’t know how to draw closer to him, then ask him to show you. Ask Him to draw you nearer to himself with his gentle cords of love (Hosea 11:4). I guarantee you that he will!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

 

How do you see God? As a distant, mystical being who’s out of touch with the real world? As a spiritual Father Christmas to whom you send a list of your needs? As an unreasonable task master? Please share your thoughts in a comment box below. I’d love to hear from you.

Effective Prayer Requires Sacrifice

 

Every morning you’ll hear me at it again.

Every morning I lay out the pieces of my life on your altar

and watch for fire to descend.

(Psalm 5:3 The Message)

 

Even though my mother (God rest her soul) inducted me into a lifestyle of prayer, it was not always easy to maintain a prayerful lifestyle. I admit it was probably not as hard for me as it is for some others within the body of Christ, who did not have that particular example and influence around them, but I nevertheless sometimes struggled.

Usually, it was because of difficult circumstances which the Enemy used to demean and distract me.

Just as King David did, I discovered that there are times when you have to speak to your soul and encourage yourself in the Lord.

The following is an extract from my writing journal, where I sought to both speak to and motivate myself, so I could continue to pray for myself and for others, regardless of how I felt; so I could deal with those issues which often tripped me up and prevented me from praying, or else undermined the effectiveness of my prayers.

I share this journal extract in the hopes that it will speak to the hearts of those who truly love God and want to please him, yet struggle in their walk with the Lord because of disappointments, or discouraging circumstances which the Enemy uses, to try and break their focus (often successfully).

I share in the hopes that those who struggle to maintain a consistent prayer life, will be encouraged to push through with determination.

—–oooooo000oooooo—–

 

PRAYER.

The power to change things. Change me, change others, change my community, change my world.

Prayer.

It is the positive power of the tongue. When you pray, you are able to join forces with God, imitate him, when he spoke in the beginning and said: “Let there be…”. There was darkness, there was void, there was no life. However, he spoke and it changed the earth’s atmosphere and environment.

Carol, are you not happy with your life, your relationships, your social and economic environment? Then change it! Take the Word of God and apply it by speaking to your circumstances with authority and in faith.

To speak with authority there must be belief in what you are saying. There must be confidence that you have the right to ask, or declare that thing. There must be confidence that what you say will come to pass.

What undermines that confidence, that assurance?

It is sin. It is the sneaking suspicion at the back of your mind that you are not quite there spiritually, that you have blotted your copy book so to speak with your rebellion and stubbornness.

You know what the Word of God says about forgiveness but nevertheless, you feel that your case is an exception, or you feel that to obey God’s word in that regard is too costly.

Yes, it is costly. Costly to your flesh. To your pride, to your self-esteem. You feel to forgive is to render you a doormat. Render you weak and impotent and pathetic whilst your offender is empowered over you.

You think to hold on to your unforgiving attitude is to hold onto the last vestiges of self-respect. That person doesn’t respect you. Onlookers who see and know what has been done also do not respect you.

Who respects the weak? Who respects the put-upon, the one who is put down not just once or twice or even three times but again and again and again and again until it becomes a cycle, until it becomes a way of life, until your thoughts and your heart and your entire life is wrapped around tightly with the scorn, ridicule and contempt, of others like a silk worm in its cocoon. Wrapped so tightly, until that person’s hatred, or jealousy, or malice, or reproach, seeps into your soul, poisoning your entire spiritual immune system.

You have the Word of God in your heart. You have the blood of Jesus that declares you righteous and justified but somehow you have allowed the poison of other people’s opinion and antics to break down your spiritual immune system. You have treated the Word of God, the name of Jesus, the blood of the Lamb, the anointing that breaks the yoke, as insignificant, in comparison to your woes, your wounds.

What is significant (to you), is that this person or those people should not get away with making you feel a non-entity, a no person, a bottom of the heap hobo. And yet… in the Kingdom of God, when it comes to our relationship with others— particularly those that mistreat or persecute us—that is sometimes how God wants us to view ourselves.

If you hold onto your life (your reputation, your self-esteem, your pride blah blah) then you will lose it! But, Jesus says if you will lose (i.e. deliberately let go of) these things for my sake, then you will find it (a higher, God-blessed life).

What a paradox!

In comparison to this world and how it thinks and operates, the Kingdom of God is a topsy-turvy way of operating. The world says: celebrate yourself, pamper yourself, live for yourself! But the Word of God says: crucify your flesh, die to self, deny yourself.

Carol, where are you in God’s equation?

Choose you this day whom you will serve—will it be your Father God, or yourself (i.e. the demands of your unruly flesh)?

[end of journal extract]

***     ***     ***

Dear friends and followers, I am choosing to be a victor. I am choosing to be a victorious overcomer.

How about you?

With much love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

 

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

Related Reading: Underdog or Overcomer

Did you enjoy reading this post? If so, please share your thoughts in a comment box below. Do you know someone whom would benefit from its message? Then please don’t hesitate to share it. Thank you.

 

Royal Connections!

 

 

Today, I received a letter in the post. The envelope indicated that this letter was from Buckingham Palace, residence of Her Majesty the Queen.

I’d completely forgotten that I’d written expressing my good wishes to her and her family for 2020. Now, I don’t normally write to the Queen, but I’d wanted to send her a complimentary copy of my recently published book (Petitions From My Heart), since it included prayers for her and her family.

As you can imagine, I was quite pleased to have received a response. It was not unexpected. I am aware the Queen responds (via her correspondence team), to those of her subjects who happen to send her letters. Although I did not ask, I had secretly hoped she would grant me permission to send my book but this was not forthcoming. However, the letter thanked me for observing their request regarding unsolicited gifts.

As I put the letter aside and contemplated showing it to my husband later when he returned from work, my thoughts went to my Father God. You see I imagine that this letter, is the closest I will ever get to Her Majesty the Queen.

Just because I sent her a letter and showed interest in her and her family, just because I’d observed royal protocol, this did not get me any further into her favour. It did not get me an invite for dinner, or draw me into her inner circle. As far as she was concerned, I was just one of her subjects, who happened to write to her and she had done her duty by granting me the courtesy of a response. There would be no further communication, no invite to become better acquainted.

My Father God however, who is so much greater than Her Majesty the Queen, indeed, greater than any illustrious person on earth (be it royalty, celebrity or other significant person), has deemed me fit to come into his awesome presence. He has graciously invited me to come and fellowship with him. He has willingly and generously adopted me into his family, elevated my position in life (to a royal status no less!), and granted me the privilege of unrestricted access to his holy presence and divine resources.

Whilst I acknowledge my pleasure at receiving a response from Her Majesty the Queen, I also realise that the reciprocal relationship and communication I have with the three members of the Godhead, is so much more rewarding.

So today, I’m giving thanks that I have a meaningful relationship with the King of kings and Lord of lords. I’m giving thanks that I know, and I’m also known by, the God of all gods!

Today, I’m appreciating afresh my place within my Father God’s kingdom as a member of His royal priesthood. And I look forward to the day I shall enjoy the silver service of my dear precious Saviour, when I partake of his feast at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

Dear friends and followers, my heart’s desire and prayer for you today is that you will also have a new awareness of your royal status and appreciate the unrestricted access you have to the three members of the Holy Godhead (Father, Son and Holy Spirit).

Have a beautiful and blessed week!

With love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

 

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here

 

 

 

 

 

Present? Or Absent?

 

The above CC0 image comes courtesy of Pixabay.com

 

Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit.

(Luke 18:1 – The Message)

 

Just suppose there’s an angel up in heaven consulting a register and calling out the name of every child of God who regularly engages in prayer?

Would s/he mark you down as present or absent?

The following is an extract from my book, Petitions From My Heart:

Daily we should be presenting ourselves before the throne of God to obtain grace for our specific needs.

Daily we should be declaring the establishment of God’s Kingdom in our lives, the Body of Christ, and our nation.

Daily we should be deploying the spiritual weapons of our warfare, combating the strategies, ploys and tactics of the Enemy designed to intimidate and deceive us, and thwart the purposes of God for our lives.

Who knows, perhaps countless heartaches could be avoided and seemingly irreconcilable situations reversed, if we diligently heed Paul’s exhortation to continue steadfast in prayer (Romans 12:12).

***     ***     ***

 Challenge:

Have you sent Jesus your knee-mail today? [click to tweet]

Love,

Carol (aka Lady Cee)

Author of: Petitions From My Heart

AMAZON UK – Print: click here; E-book: click here

AMAZON US – Print: click here;  E-book: click here