Archive | January 2012

Hoping For the Best

Jan31

“The Lord says, I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” ~Psalm 32:8

As Christians, we try hard to hone our spiritual hearing and spiritual sight. We listen for God’s voice to break through the background noise of the world so we’ll know our next steps. We know Jesus is the way, and we know our steps are ordered by God if we allow ourselves to be used by Him.

Often, there’s more than one course of action possible. We have choices in almost everything we do. God’s way is one of many we can pick; His voice is one of many we can listen to. What nobody else can claim though, is the best course of action. God’s way is not just the righteous or holy way; it’s the best way. And it’s ours to travel.

We step out in faith, partly fearing the sacrifices we’ll have to make. We step out in faith, having to resubmit our lives to God and reminding ourselves that we trust Him. We have to pray repeatedly over the same issues within our hearts because it’s so hard to give them up to our Lord. We step out, partly in fear, and hoping for the best.

God has been telling me lately that really there is no such thing as hoping for the best. The best we can have is already ours; we own it when we follow God. It might not look like it all the time, and it might feel painful sometimes. But if we truly believe that God is who He says He is, even the temporary setbacks are cause to rejoice. Because when God calls us to it, whether it’s hard or not, we are in the best possible place we could be. God will bless us for following Him, yes. But beyond that, God already knows the outcome of the courses of action to take. He knows your heart, but also the hearts of everyone else involved. Of course things don’t always seem like the best way to us; we have too much tunnel vision to see the true path. We can only know ourselves and see what our weak eyes can notice. God’s vision, however, is clear. It’s clear through to the end. And He will set your steps in the best possible direction.

Rebekah, for her part, surely had other potential husbands who lived closer to home. There were probably several good choices, decent men she may have had a good marriage with. But she traveled 500 miles with a stranger on a promise from God. She knew the way would be hard and scary, but she didn’t stop to question it. She knew that whatever God called her to be, wherever He sent her, was the best possible option for her life. So she went, willingly and immediately. The fact that she went before anybody even expected her to or wanted her to shows she trusted God completely and went with no fear in her heart. She trusted in God’s best pathway for her life.

As God was telling me this, I go on facebook and see a post from a friend who is moving away to a different country to be a missionary. She was telling her grandmother about the trip and her grandmother asked her where she’d be sleeping. She said “I’m hoping for the best.” Her grandmother, in reply, said “You know….we need to get it into our heads that whatever God gives us IS the best – no matter what it is.”

So I invite you, readers, to claim the best pathway with me. I’ve been called to walk away from a few things lately, and it hasn’t been easy. Maybe you feel God bringing you to a new location, or maybe you feel led to sacrifice something and fast. Whatever it may be, take the time to rejoice in it. Because while we can only see a narrow part of our role in the world, God can see it all. And if we follow in Him, we can rest assured that where we are is not only where we need to be, but the best possible place we can be.

God bless!

~Rebekah A

A New Heart

Jan30

Therefore also now, saith the Lord, turn ye even to me with all your heart, and with fasting, and with weeping, and with mourning: And rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil. ~Joel 2:12-13

Today marks my 18th day for a 21 day reading about fasting and that was part of the verse for the day.  I’m actually going on my 5th week of consecutive fasting and 8th overall since December.  I fasted in December because of that emotionally trying time- I thought God would work my situation out and He did… just not with the answer I thought He was going to at first.   This month however, I’ve been fasting because I felt God want me to go on a 40 day journey with Him.  To dedicate my first 40 days to Him and see what happens. To be a living sacrifice to Him and worship Him with my life. 

On this journey it’s been incredibly changing.  I’ve completely changed many of my habits- I haven’t touched hulu.com, I’ve barely watched any movies (except the Ultimate Gift and Facing the Giants), and so many things that used to matter to me (facebook, games on facebook, IMing/texting) have disappeared from my life and been replaced with Him.  Experts say that if you can get past week 5, you are much more likely to have created a habit that will stick. With God’s strength, I want to keep up this path I’m taking towards Him.  All my life I’ve known Jesus, He’s even used me for miracles and words of encouragement beyond what I should understand/know, and yet I lacked discipline towards Him.

A fundamental characteristic of mine is that I am created to push through things.  When I was in high school I helped create a yearly food drive that lasted long after I graduated, in college I started a program that continues to today, and there are many other instances in which I helped start something that was lasting.  It’s just who I am and what I’ve been created for… however, along with this comes a weakness to just start something and leave it behind- sometimes half finished.  This lack of discipline was because when I focus, I REALLY focus… but when I lose interest I quickly and completely lose interest and move on to the next thing that catches my eye.

God has been using this time in my life to mold me to gain discipline and to stick with things even when it isn’t so fun, even when I don’t feel 100% passionate about it.  There was a whole week in December in which I couldn’t feel Him. For a whole week I prayed three times a day and did it just because I knew He had told me to do so, but I felt nothing inside when I prayed.  And yet… unlike before… I actually still prayed! At the end of the week God came back strongly in my life and revealed things to me- not all very good!- but also that for the first time I was learning how to STAND in HIM.  I recently read a blog entry on wordpress about standing in Him and it was so perfect for that day. Most of my life I have HATED just standing.  I want to either leave or push forward but go stir-crazy just waiting on Him.  And yet… it seems He’s trying to teach me how to do just that even now.

And so I come to the point of today’s post- there are times where God wants us to stand and there are times where He moves us to action.  After my week of silence God broke me and showed me just how wrong I had been acting the last few months prior to.  Sure, I was going to church and even singing on the platform at times, but I had created a space for something beside Him in my heart and He was jealous.  My heart was ripped to shreds by the events of early/mid December and yet in that time God held my heart, He showed me how wrong some of my actions had been, and then He loved me back together… but into a NEW creature!

This God we serve is so full of love and mercy for us.  I’ll just say it now- I was in a destructive relationship.  We originally had been a couple for Him… but then slowly focused on each other instead of the One who had brought us together and the results were disastrous.  Less than two months after he told me he had picked out a ring and was just working to buy it, he dumped me in one of the most painful ways possible.  The Godly man who I fell in love with had started turning into a controlling, yelling person that I didn’t know but still had given my heart away to.  God told me I couldn’t dump him for all his life people had abandoned him and He wouldn’t let another person who could hear His voice do that to him… but with his actions he was slowly killing my spirit.  The first time he told me I was beautiful was the last day I ever saw him- the day he asked for a break.  Although we never did THAT sin, God had called me to a personal standard of not kissing until I married and I, wanting to please him more than God, gave in and then some.  I gave him almost everything of me and all he did was toss me away.  This God we serve though- He picked up the shattered pieces of my heart and created a new one.  One that is His and His alone.  One that He will NEVER throw away or mistaken for some cheap imitation instead of the jewel that He handcrafted. One that He will allow another to HELP hold, when we’re both ready.

I admit all this to tell you my dear readers that God loves you.  If you’ve done something that you know He isn’t pleased with- rend your heart  and find that not only will He take it and sew it back together- but with His love He will create a new one that is pure, holy, and a true treasure for someone to cherish in God’s timing. I pray that you all find the perfect peace, joy, and love that I have recently re-found and actually even felt on a deeper level in Jesus Christ when you give the bits of your heart to Him. God bless you all.

~Rebekah M. 

A Lesson In Humility

Jan29

“The greatest among you will be your servant. For those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” ~Matthew 23:11-12

Before I get into the heart of this post, I need to just take a second to thank Jesus for some exciting news: I have a new church!!!! I’ve been going to one that’s kind of far away from me, because I knew the preaching and message was great. But, it is huge. Huge. By huge I mean it’s in a former Broadway theater, and every week it’s filled to capacity. And I highly recommend you check it out, if you ever come to New York City and are looking for a good Christian (non-denominational) experience – Times Square Church. It is amazing and humbling to go and feel God move in that many people, and the preaching is always fantastic. However, because it’s so big, I was really missing the sense of fellowship that comes from church. Every time I’ve gone, I’ve never seen the same people twice. And I knew that ultimately God would lead me to a church that gave me both spiritual growth, and a community. I’ve also been praying hard for a mentor here; even my prayer partner lives hours away. So, I’ve been on the lookout for God to answer my prayers. Today, he did!! I went to a different church today on a whim, and not only was the preaching EXACTLY what was on my heart lately, but they even used some of the same Bible verses I’ve quoted on this blog! AND they have outreach groups to exactly the organizations God has been putting on my heart lately. AND, they have ‘growth groups’, which are small groups formed from common interest – each group addresses a topic, and you can meet together to grow in God in that area. For instance, there’s one group called “you can’t walk on water if you don’t get out of the boat.” I ask you – is that not exactly what I have been trying to do more of? Stepping out of the boat? So, even though it is a seemingly small thing (checking out a new church just for fun), God has used it to answer almost all of my personal prayers. How amazing is He??? I’m so excited to have found such a great community in Christ, and even more excited to tell you about it as I start attending regularly. Thank you Jesus, that even the minutiae of my life has Your full attention, and that You know exactly how to reach my spirit. My heart is full of the blessings you’ve given me today.

As exciting as my day was, that’s not to say I didn’t do some self-reflection today. I spent some quality treadmill time chatting with Jesus about some things He’s revealed in my heart (I don’t recommend the treadmill. But if you must run on one, you may as well spend the time with the One who can ensure you make it through the workout in one piece!). Last night, I spent some time with my roommate, and I wasn’t feeling all that great. In fact, I was largely out of it. And I acted like it. My roommate, coming from a long long day himself, misconstrued this for rudeness, and at one point protested it. It was no big deal; there was no fight or anything. He just made it known he didn’t appreciate how I was acting. Meanwhile, I didn’t say anything at the time, but I was kind of thrown. I was hanging on by a thread here. So even though we didn’t get a chance to chat about it, I was a little upset. And I tried to submit that reaction to Jesus, because I knew it wasn’t a big deal (although if it were, all the more reason to submit to Him!) and I wanted to just get over. The cool thing was, every time I spoke the words “Jesus I submit this to You”, He really did take it away. I’d feel better.

The problem was this: I only spoke the words. I said “Jesus I submit this”, but in my heart, I harbored it. Why? I didn’t even fully realize I was doing it at the time. But I kept it in my heart, so that come this morning, as my roommate was headed off to work today, I brought it up and told him how he’d made me sad. Today (yes, on the dreaded treadmill), God had a chat with me about this. Basically, He wanted me to see why I didn’t give my emotions over to Him; He wanted me to see what I thought was so important that I needed to keep it for myself and not give it to God.

So what was so important? Turns out, I wanted vindication. I didn’t think I’d done anything wrong, and I wanted my roommate (who also didn’t do anything wrong), to feel bad for upsetting me. Read that again: at the heart of it, I wanted him to feel bad. Maybe I wanted this for the attention it’d get me, maybe for vindication on some level, maybe it was a bit of both. I didn’t want him to feel terrible; I’d already gotten over it. I just decided that my feelings and my emotions were more important than simply moving on and forgetting it. So, for just a split second, I wanted him to feel bad.

Church today was about humility; putting others above ourselves and seeing ourselves as the least important one in the room. That’s how God wants us to live; if we see other people as more important than us, we will always be looking for opportunities to bless people. Did I do that today? Nope. I put myself above my roommate, and in doing so, I put myself above God. The funny thing is, if you’d asked me outright, I would have said ‘of course he’s more important, of course I want to be a servant and bless him.’ But my actions betrayed my words. My actions were selfish, the exact opposite of humble.

God also showed me it’s not worth it. The verse I quoted today was read at church (pre-treadmill), and God kept putting it back in my head as I jogged. He was telling me that I may have felt a burning selfish desire for vindication, and my calling out my roommate may or may not achieve it. For maybe 30 seconds I felt better, but it resolved nothing. But because I couldn’t humble myself, God humbled me. He gave a lesson. Not only did my bringing it up accomplish nothing, but that’s as much vindication and attention as I will ever get over this. I put myself first, and did a selfish act, and the ball stops there. It wasn’t even worth the words. But when we do selfless things, and trust God to provide our own needs while we spend our efforts helping others, God will multiply the deed. Instead of humbling you and spending time on a treadmill showing you how selfish you are, if you humble yourself in the first place, God in turn will lift you up, to blessings beyond what you even could have asked for.

So I have to ask myself: was it worth feeling better about myself for two minutes to miss out on these blessings and being exalted in God? Of course not. Lesson learned. Hopefully next time I remember this, and actually submit to God with my whole heart, not just with idle words.

I have to say, running on the treadmill and having your shortcomings revealed to you simultaneously is not fun. But God is good and merciful, and kept talking me through. He revealed my shortcomings not so I’d feel bad, but so that I’d grow. So that the next time I submitted to Him, and turned to Him, I could turn to Him in my words and in my heart. So that I wouldn’t just be paying lip service to the idea of serving God, but I could actually do it. I’ve found that our actions reflect what we truly believe, and so often our actions reflect unbelief. God is great at peeling back the layers if we ask Him to, and getting to the heart of where we’re at spiritually. And the best part is, He doesn’t do it for no reason. I might have spent that time on the treadmill self-analyzing, and I might have come to the same conclusion. At which point I would have said “wow what a terrible person you are, Rebekah A”. God though, doesn’t work like that. He showed me my mistakes not to condemn me, but to give me an opportunity to move beyond them. In our mistakes, we see our weaknesses. In our weakness, He is made strong. I hope you take as much comfort in that as I do!

~Rebekah A

The Ministry of Small Things

Jan28

I was listening to this sermon (same title as this blog post) while I was getting ready this morning and it ministered to me SO much! It’s follow up is called What God Can Do With What You’ve Got and it speaks so directly to what’s going on in my life right now…

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. ~Ephesians 2:10 

We’ve all been called for a purpose in life.  Nothing we do is an accident when we submit everything we do unto Him.  Just yesterday, although I’ve felt God telling me to not talk to single guys so much (even if we’re just friends) until I’m done with my appointed time in the desert- I felt the need to talk to one of my guy friends. During that talk I felt SO strongly that God has called him to be the spark of a campus revival  and I honestly don’t know for sure if he’ll step up to the plate and do it- but I truly hope and pray that he’ll step out in faith and give God what little he has and watch God give the increase.  I believe it might be as simple as just starting to ask everyone who comes by his desk to come to church with him. He doesn’t have to push or demand, just ask and see how God will move :)

 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick… ~James 5:15

The other day I remembered my first miracle- when I was in elementary school, I was going door knocking with two other people (much older than me) for a district event to invite people to a special service we were holding that day.  As we were walking, one girl kept complaining of how her shoulder was hurting. I got SO annoyed that I just whispered “In Jesus name!!” and she turned around and looked at me said “what did you do?” I told her I prayed and she got so excited because she was instantaneously better! Even shoulder pains and the annoyed prayer of a child with complete faith can be used of God. Pray and believe that He can and watch Him work!

And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say: For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say. ~Luke 12:11-12

We don’t have to have all the answers. We don’t have to wax eloquent when speaking with others about Him. God just wants us to give Him what little we have and watch HIM do the work.  Recently, I spoke with someone I was working with about Him and how she could ask Him for strength.  I’m typically scared of talking about Him at work because I don’t want some to think I’m crossing ethical lines, but today I just didn’t care.  I wanted to share how He was my strength lately and it ended up being an encouragement!

I don’t know if God really will give me an Isaac in terms of a husband- for I’ve even given that up to Him now. All I do know is that this God we serve will bring it to pass should it truly be of His Will and all I have to do is continue to give Him what little I have, worship Him with my life, and love Him with all my heart, mind, soul, and strength.  I can only do so much- but He can fill in the rest!

Dear Reader, 

I pray you are blessed right now with realizing the concept that we only need to give God our 5 loaves and 2 fishes and watch as He multiplies them to feed the 5,000. 

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. ~Mark 16:17-18 

We just have to believe that He will do what He said and we can pray for someone in a wheelchair and they’ll get up and walk.  We just have to believe that He is faithful to back up His statements and when someone tries to shoot us because we won’t deny His name, it won’t touch us.  Yet still- should we die for Him, we have to know that just means that we’ll walk on the streets of gold.  If someone isn’t healed even though we prayed in faith- there is a reason.  When we submit it ALL to Him and give Him what little we have- He will multiply it. 

Rebekah M. 

Table for Two

Jan27

“Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers my Father seeks. God is spirit, and His worshipers must worship in the spirit and in truth.” ~John 4:23-24

I’ve been in a strange place spiritually the past couple of days. I’ve been blessed with a strong prayer partner, one who desires nothing more than to run and seek after the Lord with everything that’s in her. God has been honing that in her, but for myself I’ve been feeling a bit distracted and distanced lately. Maybe I missed an opportunity to press in to God further, maybe I haven’t fully submitted my Babylon to Him. I’m not sure. It’s just seemed that the relationship I had with Jesus a few weeks ago, when I felt Him come shopping with me, hasn’t been as close lately. And since God is constant and unchanging, the change must be in me. Even my prayers have gotten vaguer and shorter. There haven’t really seemed like any specific tasks to focus on or any specific prayers to pray. Without a trusty spiritual to-do list, I lost my focus.

So today, when my prayer partner got in touch to see if I was ready for our daily prayer session, I actually felt God tell me “not yet. You’ve been coasting on her strong prayers. You need to come back before you’re ready to pray with her.” So I tried to focus on God for the day. I let it hit me anew what it meant when He was sacrificed for me, and what an act of love and grace that was. I certainly don’t deserve it, so all I can do truly is bend my knee and give thanks for it.

Interestingly, when we did finally pray together, she ended up prophesying over me and basically telling me a calling she sees for me. We also ended up doing spiritual battle and claiming healing for someone in the hospital.Most of all, we did a whooole lot of worshiping this God who is mighty to save, and who abides with us daily.

That’s how God works. He sheds light on things we may need to work on, but He takes us through it with blessings. In return, all He wants from us is us. We don’t have to bring anything fancy, or do anything special; it’s not about having a to-do list. Really, we just need to show up and spend time with Him. It could be as simple as waking up with a “Good morning Jesus!” in your heart; it could be as complex as fasting to draw closer to Him. If you give Him the time, He’ll lead you. All you need to do is show up and let Him love you. Show up, and bask in that love. Even if it’s just for 5 minutes. God has a table set and a place for you; all you need to do is show up and eat with Him.

I’ve been skipping these meals with God lately. I’ve gotten so caught up in walking out what He tells me, and serving Him in action, I started losing sight of what I was truly created to do: to love the Lord my God, and to bask in the love He bestows upon me. It’s as simple and as profound as that. So today, I invite you all to take your places at that table. Enjoy the perfect peace and love that comes from being in His presence.

Jesus, help me to remember my true purpose in life, and not lose sight of who and what I am in You. Help me to keep my eyes to You, and to never forget Your perfect love for me. Whether you have a task for me or not, help me to keep Your love at the center of my heart, and to embrace it and rejoice in it always. You’re there waiting for me at Your table; help me to always show up.

~Rebekah A

Getting Ready for Rain

Jan26

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. ~Revelations 3:8

If you haven’t seen Facing the Giants yet, you really should. In a scene near the middle of the film a minister goes to the coach’s office and reads to him that verse.  This made me jump out of my seat because although I had seen the movie before, this time the scripture held SO much more meaning to me personally.  In my emotionally trying time, God woke me up one night and told me to go on facebook. Having felt Him tell me earlier to stay off it, I questioned it, but I felt Him all the more say “Get on facebook.” When I did, I looked around a bit and was about to go on my profile when I saw “1 new post” and clicked on it.  It was a post about the above verse and I felt God telling me that it was for me.  I had such little strength, but because I kept His word and didn’t deny His name, He opened a door for me. He knew my works and opened a door for me to go through.

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. ~Psalm 126:5

In the scene following that, the coach goes to the minister and asked for further understanding. The minister says that during  a drought there were two farmers who prayed for rain.  One went out and planted seeds while the other did not. He asked “Now who’s the one who believed in God for the rain?” From that point out the coach went on the theme of preparing for the rain.

Recently, I’ve felt the call for me to prepare for rain in my life. I felt like all the tears I sowed before will have a harvest to reap. All the pain from the last few months has been used by God to fertilize my future.  I feel like I know where God wants to take me, but in order for it to happen I know that something I specifically put on His altar will have to be given back to me.  I don’t know if He’ll do that, but I needed God to know that I wanted Him above the thing I specifically put on His altar- for that’s been a dream that I’ve had all my life.  I needed God to know that there is NOTHING in this world that I want more than Him. This being said, I still go about my daily tasks for some of them I know are part of the foundations of skills and attributes I’ll need should He really call me to what I think He is.  I’m preparing for my rain. I’m preparing for the harvest that I believe He wants me to help reap in.

Dear Reader, 

If you feel God calling you to something today- start sowing the seeds necessary for that task! If God is calling you to work with youth- start getting involved with the youth ministry staff. If He’s calling you to be a prayer warrior- find time to pray EVERY day, I’ve found setting aside 3 times a day for prayer has been integral to my exponential growth in God.  When you invest time in Him and make Him a priority, He invests things back into you.  If you feel Him leading you to an action- act! I recently felt God tell me to do something for my pastor and his wife. To the point where I had left my house already and had to turn around and drive back to get it.  That night and the next day, I received messages from them both saying just how timely it was and thanking me for listening to God.  If He calls- FOLLOW! For you never know how it might bless others and how God might use it to eventually bless you :)  

~Rebekah M. 

Food For Thought

Jan25

I was talking with my prayer partner today, and the subject of Communion came up.  I told her how I’d gone to a church that treated Communion as an actual meal, taken together. We would read that verse together every week, then spent some prayer time with God, just asking Him to examine our hearts and shine His mirror upon them, showing us our imperfections. When we spent time with Him over things we needed to fix the coming week, and repented or prayed as necessary, and we felt the ok from God, we’d go up and get our food, and eat it together. Once everyone was done, we’d start the service.

I loved it that way, because even if you hadn’t spent much time in prayer that week, it was still a weekly call to come before your Savior and be open to Him. It’s also a reminder of what He did for us. At His last supper He took the bread and said “Take this, all of you, and eat it. This is my body, which will be given up for you.” Given up. Broken, bloodied, and crucified. Sacrificed in a horrific and painful way…for us. How much grace and love was behind that sacrifice? And how often do we think about it? Moreover, how often do we thank Him for it? The magnitude of His love for us is astounding. As it should be. Our gratitude should be overwhelming. We should think about Jesus’ time on that cross and be moved to tears. How can we not trust our Lord, the one who sacrificed for us before we even existed – because He knew He loved us even back then, and knew He found us worth it.

As we talked, I was moved more and more by what He gave to us. Every thing we have and do, even what we eat, is a gift given to us by our Lord Jesus Christ. Everything. It is all a blessing, given by His grace.

So readers, today I ask you to be moved right along with me. When you sit down to a meal today, and hopefully from here on out, give thanks. Not just for the fact that you get to eat, but also for what had to be sacrificed so that you could. Whether you’re calling it Communion or just a regular meal, whether you’re eating in a group or just with God. Give thanks, and open your hearts to Jesus just a little bit more. Maybe He has guidance for you; maybe He just wants to dine with you as He dined with His friends on that last supper. Regardless, see what happens when you sit in His presence for that much longer, thanking Him for what He’s given you, and sitting open to His advice. Let Him in that much more, and get to know Him that much better. He bled and died so that you could.

~Rebekah A

Dancing In The Closet

Jan24

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. Matthew 6:6 

These past few months God has been working in my heart on a new level.  I know I keep mentioning it, but that emotionally taxing time was truly a turning point for me in my spiritual life. In my pain, I buried myself in Him and turned into the kind of Christian I have always wanted to be. The kind that I loved hanging around but was never willing to sacrifice myself to actually be.  One who listens to sermons in her free time, one who prays EVERY day- typically multiple times a day, one who reads her Bible EVERY day, one who seeks for Him in everything- even to tell her what color to wear that day for who knows how He could use it, but He could!

Much of my life I’ve been on the platform at the churches I’ve attended as a singer. I worship Him openly in church and it has encouraged people to do the same when they would see my sincerity towards Him.  It was always my prayer that I would disappear while I was up there and He would shine through.  Nice as that was, it was only in the most personally painful storm of my life that I finally learned to worship Him in private.  One day I found myself driving home after church and He had moved mightily in service and I even received a personal message from Him. During that drive I felt Him say to me:

Although it has always pleased me that you would openly praise and worship me in church, knowing that it  allows others to feel free to open up to me too, you are already blessed then.  However, when you praise and worship me in your home where no one else can see, for me- your audience of one- then am I truly pleased and will reward you. 

I know with all my heart that I had received the word from Him that night specifically because before service I was dancing and jumping and shouting in praise and worship to Him. He rewards openly when you pray, praise, and worship in your closet.

This morning I woke up and spent some time in my prayer closet. God has provided me with a literal closet that I am able to sit in and pray.  Thus, early this morning I sat in the closet and for almost half an hour I just imagined about how something that had become messed up in my life could potentially be turned around.  As my closest (and even some acquaintances) know, I have quite the imagination. I have a hard time keeping it in check and can have elaborate daydreams of how things will work out in this or that.  Finally, I stopped and just talked to God.  He moved in to my closet so strongly I felt almost like He was holding me in a hug.  It was amazing and I felt Him tell me to get up and dance before Him- to give Him my heart, mind, strength. Later on, my boss complimented me again today for something I did and has given me even more freedom of my time.  I know that this favor is not of me.  Yes, things look like they are my actions, but truly they are His working through my body.  Thank You Lord for Your favor in my life.  Thank You Lord for helping me heal, change, and be molded into the woman of God that You want me to be.  

Dear Reader, 

Learn to dance in your prayer closets.  Learn to do things for the audience of One. When you do, you’ll find that He will bless you beyond what you ever imagined.  This does not mean that life will be perfect and you’ll never have any problems, but it does mean that you’ll have peace beyond your circumstances, grace in the storm, joy unspeakable, and You. Will. Have. Victory. I encourage you now to live in the victorious life that God has before you through learning how to make, maintain, and even dance in a prayer closet for Him. 

~Rebekah M. 

More Than Enough

Jan23

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin…if that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow thrown into the fire, will He not much more clothe you – you of little faith? So do not worry, saying ‘what shall we eat?’ or ‘what shall we drink?’ or ‘what shall we wear?’. For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” ~ Matthew 6:25-33

This verse has been stuck in my head for several days now. I read it, and I instantly want to worship the Lord. How mighty and loving and faithful of a God do we serve, that all we have to do is seek Him, and follow Him, and He provides for us. In a world where nothing is free, and in fact seemingly gets pricier by the day, I almost can’t even wrap my head around it.

Yet, as Christians, God calls us to do just this. Our worries are not supposed to be of material things, because God tells us time and time again that He can control material things. He’s bigger than our daily problems. If we do nothing else in life but seek the Lord, and submit our lives to Him, He can and will provide everything we need to live it. Everything. When the Israelites escaped from Egypt and were stuck starving in the desert with no food, God rained food down from the heavens to provide for them. They were taking a risk, but doing so in faith. They were following their God, and He did not lead them astray. Rather, He worked a daily miracle – literally raining food from the sky – so His people would simply be provided for.

Rebekah had a similar experience. She had no idea what she was getting into. All she knew was that God wanted her to follow an old man for 500 miles. So she did, and was not only provided for, but blessed with a husband and 2 sons. And not only that, but she was brought directly into the lineage of Jesus Christ. How faithful God is to those who are faithful to Him!!

So many of our sacrifices and decisions are accompanied by fear. But God not only tells us our decisions, but gives us every tool we need to live with them and move forward. All we need to do is depend on Him to do it. That can mean stepping out before we know the outcome, but for me, it’s a huge comfort. I know that life has its scary moments, and its everyday worries. I also know my life belongs to my Savior, and He won’t forsake me. That fact alone can turn ‘scary’ into ‘exciting’. I can’t wait to see where God takes me next!

Jesus, help me to remember and trust that You are a God of ‘more than enough’. Help me to stay in the place of dependence that You want me to be in. You are not only my Counselor, guiding and shaping my life and calling me to my actions and standards, but in every step you are also my Provider. All I have to do is act in faith, and you will take care of the rest. You are truly all I need, and I thank you Lord for being so constant and faithful.

~Rebekah A

Being a Lion Hunter

Jan22

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. I Peter 5:6-10

Rebekah fearlessly went after what she wanted. Without a second thought she embarked on a journey to marry a man she never met because she believed God was in it. She dressed her younger son up in animal fur to trick her ailing, blind husband because she was sure that he was the one who should get the blessing. As the other Rebekah spoke of the other day, we sometimes have to go through a rough time to grow in Him.  He allows the bad things to happen to us to help us grow.  In my trial by fire these last few months God has shown Himself faithful in time of trouble.  I tried to fix things myself at first and only ended up making more of a mess. In the end, although my life felt like it was in shatters, He held me up and I learned that when all else fell away from me, I truly was found in Him.  Bury yourself in Him and He will show Himself faithful.  A friend who will never leave you.  A Father who wants only good for you.  A love that will never disappoint.  

Last night a group of us watched Facing the Giants which combines my two loves: Jesus and football. This was not my first time watching the movie and I felt such excitement when my favorite scene began. It was where the coach blindfolded a player and had him do a “deathcrawl” to the endzone on the other side.  In the commentary, the director notes how God will do this with us. If we could see how far we need to go we’d never even start, thinking of defeat even before the first step. But with God as our coach telling us “just 10 ten more steps! Now just 4 more steps! Come on, you can do this! I KNOW you can do this!” we can go the distance and take down any enemy that may come our way.

This being said, I’ve felt a call lately to go hunt some lions.  The devil goes about seeking whom He may devour and I truly believe that someone I cared about has become a victim due to some of their actions lately.  This just makes me want to get out there even more and hunt some lions.  It may not help that person, but I’m sick of the devil having more influence in this world than he’s supposed to.  We think he’s so mighty (and we really shouldn’t recklessly go attack him), but with God providing the armor (Eph 6:11), weapons (II Corinthians 10:4), and attack plan (Ps 37:23), how can we fail?  I’m sick of people walking away from the things of God because their past haunts them too much, I’m sick of people thinking that God could never fully love them, I’m sick of people rejecting God because they think they’d have to give up too much when they’re chained by the world, and I’m sick of people I love not knowing the true God who loves them beyond belief.

And so, this is my battle cry. As Rebekah boldly went about her tasks, I boldly take up my weapons of prayer and fasting and seek to take out some lions.

Dear reader,

I pray that today, if you feel God leading you to take out some lions then do it without holding back. Just remember to always keep things biblical! Vengeance is mine saith the Lord (Romans 12:19), so don’t do it in a spirit of revenge but for those who persecute you- pray for them, for those who declare you to be their enemy- love them, and for those who hit you on the cheek- offer your other cheek.  For God’s ways are not our own and the battle is won through prayer, fasting, praise, and worship- not through actions of our own doing.  I invite you to put on your armor; sharpen your weapons of prayer, fasting, praise, and worship; and hunt some lions with me! 

~Rebekah M.