When God says, “no.”
Are you angry, confused, sad?
Have you given it all? Have you done your best? Have you reflected and feel satisfied with your words and actions and still God said, “no”? It’s as if you’re standing in a hallway and the door is shut!
God might say no for a few reasons:
1) It’s not the best time now.
2) I have something better for you.
3) Your motives aren’t right.
When you’re certain God has shut a door, you’ll question him or yourself, your skills, and your worth. That’s fine. Go ahead and process the hurt and confusion. When you’re ready to move on, shut the monkey mind down and align yourself with God.
1) Surrender and say, “Not my will Lord, but yours be done.”
2) Bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
3) Put on the garment of praise
4) Remind yourself you’re a joint-heir with Christ
This is not a demotion or a message that God doesn’t trust you. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. It’s an invitation to completely ignore the natural and see a supernatural plan you could only imagine. It requires character you’ve never had and faith you’ve only heard about.
Listen! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come into him and have dinner with him, and he with Me. The victor: I will give him the right to sit with Me on My throne, just as I also won the victory and sat down with My Father on His throne. Revelation 3:20,21
Rise up! Stand up and get ready for something brand new. It may not be the adventure you planned or expected, but it is yours to enjoy with your Creator. He’s proud of you, your flexibility and your willingness to let go and start AGAIN!
I know someone who will stick up for you!
Do you need an army commander on your side?
This week’s message is in a video instead of a letter and it’s all about Jehovah Sabaoth, the Lord of Armies!
Do you ever feel like God Is disciplining you?
I’m still waiting for God to move.
In my last blog post, I shared that I am currently waiting for Jehovah Jireh’s perfect timing, some connections, and opportunities that will open doors for the vision I’m pursuing. In my last letter, I told you to:
- Obey God. Do whatever he tells you to do.
- Practice gratitude by remembering what he did for you in the past.
- Focus on his character rather than the circumstances.
When I was a teenager Mom took curfew very seriously. If she said, “Be home by eleven,” we didn’t dare come home at 11:08 because if we did, the consequence was stiff. We could be grounded for weeks. At the time I didn’t understand that her high standard was from love. It felt punitive. Sometimes I felt like I was in jail. As a grown woman, mother, and grandmother, I can see things now that I couldn’t see then. Mom saw things in me I couldn’t see for myself. She knew discipline and integrity were important elements of my future, and she took her part in my development seriously. Her no-nonsense parenting influenced me to be a woman of dedication, commitment and loyalty.
As I wait, I sometimes feel like God is taking an unreasonable amount of time in getting resources and people to me, but I know he’s developing my character, just like Mom was doing.
I started listening to my own words and watching my own actions. I was saying, “He is the provider,” but I was acting like opening doors and finding favor was all my responsibility. Holy Spirit showed me how false responsibility was deeply embedded in my soul. I’ve repented and journaled.
I’m walking out my new belief daily, and sometimes it’s painful. I have had to ask for help more than I would like to. But Jehovah Jireh has made it clear he is providing the people to help me. THEY are a part of his provision. If I’m going to fulfill God’s call on my life, I won’t do it independently.
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 12:9
Do you have a God-given dream or a vision that you’re waiting for? You’re ready to do your part, and it seems like God is roughing you up a bit. Don’t buy into that lie for a moment. He’s not roughing you up. He’s developing your character. Your talents and skills can elevate you to promotion, but you need the character to maintain your new position.
Are you waiting for a shift?
I have a key to help you in the wait.
I am currently in ‘the wait,’ trusting God for a change and opportunities that will impact the vision and dreams for my life and work. As I wait (sometimes not so patiently), I have knocked on doors that didn’t open. I also walked down a couple of promising-looking paths and realized I wasn’t wearing the right shoes for those rocky paths so I turned around and came back. BIG Sigh!
God recently taught me something new about the word wait.
Wait for the Lord;
be strong, and let your heart take courage;
wait for the Lord! Psalm 27:14
Here is the word wait in Hebrew:
qāvâ- look for, hope, expect, wait eagerly for
I compared the biblical definition to my own waiting behaviors:
- Pacing the floor asking God, “What have I done wrong?”
- Coming up with a new idea and saying, “I’ll try this!”
- I considered throwing in the towel.
I was convicted that my actions didn’t reflect a biblical example of waiting at all. As I sat with Holy Spirit to discuss my dilemma He did some teaching (He’s really good at that.).
He reminded me:
- God is completely aware of ALL things in my life.
- While I wait, I can develop new practices (hope instead of fretting, expectancy in place of doubt).
- As I put the new practices in place, I will mature and be ready WHEN the doors He has for me open wide!
Learning the meaning of one little word has helped me shift my thinking and my habits.
If your waiting behaviors aren’t full of joy and faith, SURRENDER and embrace the wait with hope and expectancy in the character of God.
- Remember what He has done for you in the past.
- Remain in relationship with Him.
- Ask Holy Spirit questions and wait for Him to answer (Don’t ask Him a question and then answer it yourself.).
I had to reset as I waited. In my next blog post, I’ll share how a misalignment in my identity was impacting my wait in a negative way!
What are your summer needs?
Are summer needs different from spring or fall needs?
“My kids are home for the summer and all they want to do is eat! Hey guys, food is expensive.”
This was the opening statement made by the emcee of an event I recently attended. Her words had nothing to do with the event and I wondered, “Does this mean she has ongoing worry about summer finances?”
As I pondered the question, I realized each season brings its own set of special needs. If you’re raising kids, the fall requires everyone to adjust to a structured schedule. In the winter, there are demands on our time as we plan for the holidays.
Every change of season demands the provision of something you don’t have.
You may need financial resources, wisdom or understanding. Whatever the case, you need to connect with Jehovah Jireh.
Interestingly, other names of God tell who God is to His people.
Jehovah Shalom – The Lord is peace
Jehovah Rohi – the Lord my shepherd
El – the strong one
Jehovah Jireh’s definition, the Lord will provide is different. It includes a promise of something to come and to see the manifestation of the promise you must INVEST in the promise with FAITH.
Genesis 22 is one of the best-known stories regarding God’s provision.
God and Abraham are involved in a dialogue (a father/son conversation), and in the dialogue God refers to Abraham’s son, Isaac as “your son, your only son, whom you love.” This is the first time love is mentioned in the Bible. Those words let Abraham know God the Father was fully aware of who he was, inside and out.
Immediately after pulling on Abraham’s heartstrings, God asks Abraham for the impossible, “…go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.”
If the request wasn’t astounding enough, what happened next challenged me like a Rubik’s cube. Abraham didn’t question or argue with God’s request. With faith in the God that asked the absurd of him, he acted in obedience. He had three long days and nights to travel with the son he loved and respond to God’s order, “sacrifice him there as a burnt offering.”
Two things seem obvious to me. As Jacob traveled,
1. He remained in relationship with God.
2. His relationship kept him acting in faith.
As he moved toward Mount Moriah he waited on God. He put his hope and expectation on the same God that gave him the miracle son when he had lost hope of ever being a father. Abraham kept hope alive on that three-day journey. Everything was placed on the character of Jehovah Jireh.
How do we know what Abraham was thinking about?
As he and Isaac traveled up the mountain, Isaac asked his father, “Where is the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham responded, “Jehovah Jireh will provide the lamb for the sacrifice.”
Do you think he could have spoken those words if his mind was consumed by his circumstances?
Those words were spoken by a man who had not forgotten how Jehovah Jireh miraculously provided in the past. He didn’t allow time to rob him of the wonder of Jehovah Jireh. His wonder, hope, and expectation were critical elements of his activated faith.
What do you need from Jehovah Jireh? What does your three day journey look like? Is it an unreasonable wait time for a good doctor’s report? Is it a promotion you should have received long ago? Is it the promise of salvation for a wayward loved one?
Do like Abraham did.
1. Obey Jehovah Jireh, even if His direction is absurd.
2. Remember how Jehovah Jireh has provided for you in the past.
3. Focus on his character, instead of your circumstances.
Ps… You can purchase your own set of Names of God cards! Each set contains 22 cards with 22 of God’s names, the attribute of each name, and Bible verses to see each attribute applied in scripture. Learn more here!
Do You Call Him Lord, God Or Daddy?
What do you need from God?
My husband and I have been married for forty-plus years and when I speak to him I can use his full name, his nickname, or a term of endearment. If we need to talk seriously, I call him by his full name. It’s a clue to be sober-minded. When I call him to the dinner table I call him Honey. Preparing a meal he enjoys is an act of love on my part and I’m delighted to serve it to him.
In the Old Testament original text, God is referred to by numerous names and titles.
What’s the value of knowing God’s names?
Knowing God’s names and what they mean allows you to reach out to Him with specificity.
In a battle?
Jehovah Sabaoth- the Lord of the hosts of armies?,
Lonely?
Jehovah Shammah- the Lord my companion
Need guidance?’
Jehovah Rohi-The Lord my shepherd
Learning and using His names has impacted how I pray and worship. When I use a particular name because I have a particular need, my assurance and faith strengthen. When I call out a name and its meaning, I know I’m knocking on the right door. When I read the scripture and see His actions connected to that name, I experience peace.
I have designed a set of Names of God cards you can use for your prayer and worship time. Each set contains 22 cards. Each card has one of God’s specific names, its meaning, Bible references, and how each name meets a specific human need.
Click here to order your Names of God cards.
Here’s a great article on the history and benefits of calling on the name of the Lord.
The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe. Proverbs 18:10
Has confusion hijacked your rest?
Confusion has an agenda.
Emotional, mental, and physical rest are all important, and you probably accept that as truth. But where are you in your practice?
Beginner – You want to learn to rest, but it’s still a new concept to you.
Intermediate – You have some practices, but they can be outranked by limited time or other’s demands.
Advanced – You are committed and proud of it!
Confusion will steal your rest like a starving dog in a meat locker. Its agenda is to keep you hustling or feeling guilty or continuing to press on through exhaustion. Confusion demands attention. It pulls your mind into inner dialogues like
Everything lies on your shoulders. If you stop now, everyone loses! Keep hustling. You’re almost there. Who cares that the work you produce when you’re tired has less quality? Just get it done! Do you think Sandy Superstar needs rest? You’re lame!
Don’t give confusion your quality time. When you feel confused about resting, ask yourself these two simple questions.
1) Should I follow confusion and explore what it has to say?
2) Do I engage with Holy Spirit and explore what He has to say?
You already have a track record with God. You hear from Him and are able to discern between wisdom and fear. He holds your future in His hands and you may stop, but the world doesn’t. God is the Alpha and Omega.
Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 1 Corinthians 1:20
If learning to rest was easy, how much less stress and anxiety would we have in our culture? It’s a journey that adds to your pursuit of wholeness. Keep learning. Keep taking risks. Keep believing when people see a person who practices rest, they might believe in a Savior who promotes it.
Dismantle stories with bad endings!
Worry is a liar!
Worry is a persuader. It tells stories with bad endings. It tells stories of loss. When you allow worry to have a place in your mind it says things like:
- You’re losing money.
- You’re losing your reputation.
- You’re losing relationships.
- You’re losing traction.
What is your relationship with worry?
In many family cultures worry is a badge of honor, it shows you care. Many of us learned to worry from watching our elders (who probably didn’t know better) worry about everything from conflict within the family to mounting laundry. If this describes you, “It’s time to break up with worry!”
Worry doesn’t help you reach goals, make or keep friends or have a peaceful life. There are numerous ways to fight the habit of worry.
- You might need to do an Exchange. Take the habit and bad beliefs to the Cross. The link leads you to the free workshop.
- Use Bible verses that remind you worry isn’t God’s idea. Assemble a few verses in the form of a prayer and use them as a weapon when you begin to worry.
- Use gratitude as a weapon. List things you are grateful for and watch your anxiety level lower.
Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”
1 Cor. 15:33
Imagine worry like a person. Worry isn’t a good person to hang out with because worry has an agenda. The agenda is to derail you from being the person God created you to be and keep you from your purpose. You were created for great things. Unfriend worry and get to the business of your future!
I would love to connect with you! Reach out anytime and set up a call to discuss how I can help you work through your challenges with worry.
Are you running out of time?
Does a deadline make you panic?
Years ago, we hit a big financial bump in the road. I recall the feeling of panic; my neck hurt, I wasn’t sleeping well, and I was constantly worrying. I worked in sales at the time and was hustling as fast and as hard as I could. At the end of each day, I counted up the money I collected and compared it to the payments I needed to make and the gap didn’t seem to be lessening. Money was going out each week for gas and groceries, and my daily sales just weren’t closing the gap.
A friend took me out for a birthday dinner. When she dropped me off, she handed me a birthday card and drove away. I walked inside our home and opened the card. Inside was a check for $1000. I was shocked! I dialed her number and asked, “What is this?” She responded, “Oh Honey, God told me you needed it.”
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians.4:6,7
This is how good God is! He met my need even though I followed none of the instructions in this verse. In fact, my actions reflected thinking of this type:
Worry about your situation so you can get God’s attention. Pace the floor, lose sleep, and talk about your panic, in the hopes that God will feel sorry for you. Earn His respect to show your worth! Book of Worry 1:1
There is a recipe from Philippians 4:6,7
- Decide to resist worry. “Satan, there’s nothing you can tell me that will change what I believe about God. He is watching over me.”
- Express thanksgiving.” Papa, I celebrate who you are. I am grateful to love you and be loved by you. I appreciate that you care about every detail of my life.”
- Petition him. “Papa, I need your help. Today, I need_______________.”
These three steps of this process lead you to the fruit and promise at the end of this verse, And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
If you want the peace of God, you must:
- Resist the worry.
- Express gratitude.
- Petition Him with your need.
Maybe you have a deadline that you don’t think you can meet, a workplace problem that is looming over you, or a health issue that seems insurmountable. Whatever the problem, the recipe for peace is the same. If you want to let go and let God, follow God’s recipe in Philippians 4:6,7.
Are You Stuck Between A Rock And A Hard Place?
It will be okay, so long as Jesus is your ROCK!
Let go and let God is a standard Christianese quote. It’s the realization that something is bigger than self, attainable ONLY with God’s intervention. It’s simplistic but requires multiple steps to make it happen. Releasing unrealized goals, dreams and plans feels like failure to a person that is known for getting things done, climbing mountains, etc. You could write your unrealized life plans on a slip of paper, stand in an open field and let the wind take it away while you chant, It’s yours, God. I’m letting go, or you could meet with God and find out His perspective.
RESOLVE + FAITH = PEACE
- Meet with God and be honest about your feelings. Name your pain in the conversation. Are you confused, disappointed, or afraid? Hearing yourself be honest is the first step to taking pressure off of yourself. When you decide to Let Go and Let God, it is important to end your time with God with RESOLVE, a firm conviction that God is on your side.
- Once you’re confident you are partnering with God (You’re not independent of Him or scrambling to find Him.), you can take a step of FAITH. This might mean taking on new thoughts, new words or new actions. When we step out in faith, we’re trusting in Him and not ourselves.
- PEACE is the by-product of your certainty (RESOLVE) that God’s got this and your willingness to step out in FAITH (Do something new or do something in a new way). The Bible tells us to pursue peace. Assurance of God’s character and your courage to step into unknown territory will give you the PEACE that passes all understanding.
Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:9
I want to hear your story. Let’s talk.