I went to bed at my usual time last night, and I got up as my alarm buzzed this morning, not waking on my own. And daggone - I cannot stay awake! Actually, now that I have been 'up' for a couple hours I am starting to snap out of it. All I can figure is it is cooler out this morning and I am loving it. This is the kind of weather I love to bury myself under my blankets and sleep. I sleep better when it is cool in the air. But this morning I didn't want to sleep but my eyes kept shutting. I still have gotten everything done, but it was difficult.
It was a fairly good weekend. As I mentioned yesterday, I didn't get everything done Saturday that I had thought about doing, but did some. Yesterday was church and the message was really on fire! It was on 'The Lord rebuke you!' and it was very much on point. I took lots of notes and plan to review them some time this week. I had started a book last week about receiving the mantle, I think I've already shared it. Well, I sat down after lunch yesterday, after hubby watched the Cardinals lose their game, and finished the book just as we were going to bed. It was a good book and I am asking God what mantle He has for me. Do you wonder what mantle He has for you? Ask Him! It was a good book, informative and leaves a person wanting their own mantle. I personally want Elijah's mantle - and a double portion just as Elisha got!
But one thing I need to ask for first - is Boldness! There are times when I 'feel' bold, but many times I hold back on saying or doing something because of............. what?? Am I embarrassed? No. I guess I am more afraid that people will look at me like I'm nuts. I don't know. I need to shake that and if I say something over someone, then I need to believe that God will do it. And if He doesn't - it is His decision. I don't always know the whole story of things.
Ok - I'm going to bare myself here. As I was putting oil on my hubby's shoulder last night, based on things we heard in the message yesterday, the thought came to me to 'speak' to the shoulder and tell it to heal and the pain to stop. Now, was that MY thought, or was God telling me to do that? I don't know.... but I guess I thought hubby would think I had gone over the edge, so I didn't say anything then... but waited until I was alone and said it. Still effective? Probably not. Regardless of how I felt I would sound, I should have said it when I was putting the oil on his shoulder. I am now praying for more boldness. I believe that God will heal and I believe that God wants to do what we ask of Him, and I believe I have faith... but I haven't shaken some things that were said to me years ago that shook me to the core. So now I am praying for boldness; I am praying for more faith; I am asking for the anointing to be about my Father's business.
Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV): "But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him."
Regardless of whether or not I see any answers to any of my prayers, I must believe and have faith that God hears me and is acting in His time frame, and not mine. Of course when I pray, I want immediate responses from Him. I want migraines to immediately disappear. I want healings from sickness to remove themselves immediately. I want my sister's shingles to be gone when she awakens this mornings. I pray these things.... but they are always in God's timeframes. We have prayed over hubby's shoulder for a few years now that it has gotten so bad for him. And it still hurts him and keeps him awake at night, no matter how many creams we put on it. It's bone on bone. Cortisone shots are not an option, his doctor says. We keep praying... so why doesn't God answer? I have no idea. I know and I believe that He can. And He may be answering and the answer is NO. But why? I have no clue. Maybe it is for hubby - or for me - to dive deeper into our faith and to know Him more. All I know is that I believe that God can restore this shoulder just as he would straighten a lame leg.
I believe God still heals, and I believe that God still brings back to life those things that have been declared dead. Yes, dead things can be brought back to life, whether it is the breath of people that is gone, or relationships destroyed, or situations that happen. God can bring healing.... but we have to ask Him for it. And we have to have faith to believe.
Mark 9:14-29 (NKJV): "And when He came to the disciples, He saw a great multitude around them, and scribes disputing with them. Immediately, when they saw Him, all the people were greatly amazed, and running to Him, greeted Him. And He asked the scribes, "What are you discussing with them?" Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not."
He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."
Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes."
Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!"
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "he is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?"
So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing by prayer and fasting.""
Have faith and believe that nothing is impossible for our God! Ask in faith, believing that what you ask for will happen.
Blessings!
