"We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you."
2 Chronicles 20:12.
This is in the context of this crazy huge battle going on, along with quite possibly the largest, craziest worship service the world has even seen.
"A vast army is coming against you" verse two shares, indicating that a war on Jehoshaphat is going on, or about to. The Spirit of the Lord makes it clear to his people that "You will not have to fight this battle. Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged. Go out to face them tomorrow, and the LORD will be with you."
Verse 15 says that "the battle is not yours, but God's."
Right after the challenging and encouraging word from the Spirit, "Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the LORD." Skip a few verses and "As they began to sing and praise, the LORD set ambushes against the men... who were invading Judah, and they were defeated."
:) :)
I think that is incredibly astounding, and the way that it completely relates to life in general amazes me. I can't even begin to count up all the times I've gotten so anxious and riled up based on the current circumstances in my life. Don't get me wrong, there are times that simply just suck and the last thing I want or even need is a solution.
Personally, I believe that it is way more important to just be with people, rather than try and fix them. Through this passage, I feel like God is sweetly saying, "My daughter, I've got this. Trust it. Breathe it. Walk in it." Yes, there are lots of people against us (against His presence inside of us), and yes, it is important to go out and face them, BUT to then step back and let God do the fighting. I think that it's when we do that, stepping back, letting Him fight for us and bowing with our faces to the ground, that then His glory is revealed.
We have so much power in praising the name of Jesus! His name, His power, His glory! I mean seriously!!
"As they began to sing and praise..." THAT'S when the LORD defeated those against them. And once He did, "all the men of Judah and Jerusalem returned joyfully to Jerusalem, for the Lord has given them cause to rejoice over their enemies. They entered Jerusalem and went to the temple of the Lord with harps and lutes and trumpets. The fear of God came upon all the kingdoms of the countries when they heard how the Lord had fought against the enemies of Israel. And the kingdom of Jehoshaphat was at peace, for his God has given him rest on every side."
Talk about a reason to rejoice!
Man, there are so many times that I pray and want and seek and desire a REASON to praise, a REASON to dance, a REASON to worship. And then I remember. JESUS is THE reason.
Isaiah 61 talks about how He comforts all who mourn, provides for those who grieve, turns beauty into ashes, mourning into dancing, and spirits of despair into garments of praise. He is so worthy!
"I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with jewels" (Isaiah 61: 10).
THE LORD WILL FIGHT FOR YOU; YOU NEED ONLY TO BE STILL. Exodus 14:14
January 22, 2010
January 16, 2010
Sweetly Spoken
God gave me a phrase the other day.
"It's my love that is your strength."
Mmmmmmm.
Think about it.
Breathe it.
"It's my love that is your strength."
Mmmmmmm.
Think about it.
Breathe it.
You Quiet Me With Your Love
"You have set me free. You have set me free. I am Yours, forever more!" "We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon You." 2 Chronicles 20:12
The LORD is speaking to me. He loves me. He treasures me. He has set me apart. He has called me. I am His. His Lover. He strengthens me. I must persevere. I must press on. I must take heart. Cling to Jesus. He has set me apart, called me, to live a life of purity in heart, mind, soul and body. He is protecting me. He has set me on fire. He is fanning the flame inside of me. I am refreshed. I am standing fast in the true grace of God. I close my eyes and ears to what this world preaches. I will not fall into the traps Satan has laid out for me. Jesus is my refuge. My Sovereign God, Wonderful Maker, Provider of all things, and He calls me His own. He wants me. He is coming to marry me. I am His and He is mine. My Beloved.
"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us, he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he WILL appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
Hosea 6: 1-3
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."
Psalm 62:3-5
The LORD is speaking to me. He loves me. He treasures me. He has set me apart. He has called me. I am His. His Lover. He strengthens me. I must persevere. I must press on. I must take heart. Cling to Jesus. He has set me apart, called me, to live a life of purity in heart, mind, soul and body. He is protecting me. He has set me on fire. He is fanning the flame inside of me. I am refreshed. I am standing fast in the true grace of God. I close my eyes and ears to what this world preaches. I will not fall into the traps Satan has laid out for me. Jesus is my refuge. My Sovereign God, Wonderful Maker, Provider of all things, and He calls me His own. He wants me. He is coming to marry me. I am His and He is mine. My Beloved.
"Come, let us return to the LORD. He has torn us to pieces but he will heal us, he has injured us but he will bind up our wounds. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence. Let us acknowledge the LORD; let us press on to acknowledge him. As surely as the sun rises, he WILL appear; he will come to us like the winter rains, like the spring rains that water the earth."
Hosea 6: 1-3
"Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge."
Psalm 62:3-5
January 12, 2010
Daughter, Come Sit On My Lap
"Come sit on My lap. Breathe. Stop it. You can't impress me. Come be, with Me. Receive all the love I have for you. It's so much better, greater, sweeter and more satisfying than wine! Than anything or anyone your wildest dreams could imagine. Ever. Don't forget. I'm coming for you. You're gonna be My bride! Now, want it."
During my time at IHOP-KC (International House of Prayer- Kansas City) I got prophesied over a few times. A common theme of it was that the season that I’m in right now is to receive all the incredible love God has for me. After all, He's coming to marry us, so He desires for His bride to long for Him in the same way that He longs for His bride! I was told that it is safe for me to trust Him with my memories and that He is keeping a scrapbook of my memories. Also, that He is growing me in leading worship and that He is planting me to pour and invest into where I am right now- meaning Bethel. Bethel is my new "teen center." One night in particular, the IHOP Prayer Room was hosting a special healing and prophecy focused gathering, which is where an older woman prophesied over me. As I was "soaking" in the healing section, she sat down next to me and held me in a tight embrace. She said that she felt like God just wanted me to be still... to not even try and think, or pray; but to receive. She said that she was going to be silent and listen, and then to speak over me the truths that God was revealing.
As time went on, she said that she saw me in a nest. I was a little baby and God was the Papa bird. He was ruffling my feathers and she said that we were uncontrollably laughing in pure joy and enjoying each others company completely. OOOHHHH how incredibly glorious! That is SO amazing! The thought made me breathless at the time, and still kind of does.
The whole concept of God being our Papa, Daddy, Father... whatever you wanna call it... has been hard for me over the years, because of my relationship, or lack there of, with my dad. This has been something that He has been redeeming inside of me the past few years. During my senior year of high school God opened my eyes that my earthly family does NOT define me. It's His love that is my strength, and my identity is that of a Lover, in response to the One who loved me first!
During my time at IHOP-KC (International House of Prayer- Kansas City) I got prophesied over a few times. A common theme of it was that the season that I’m in right now is to receive all the incredible love God has for me. After all, He's coming to marry us, so He desires for His bride to long for Him in the same way that He longs for His bride! I was told that it is safe for me to trust Him with my memories and that He is keeping a scrapbook of my memories. Also, that He is growing me in leading worship and that He is planting me to pour and invest into where I am right now- meaning Bethel. Bethel is my new "teen center." One night in particular, the IHOP Prayer Room was hosting a special healing and prophecy focused gathering, which is where an older woman prophesied over me. As I was "soaking" in the healing section, she sat down next to me and held me in a tight embrace. She said that she felt like God just wanted me to be still... to not even try and think, or pray; but to receive. She said that she was going to be silent and listen, and then to speak over me the truths that God was revealing.
As time went on, she said that she saw me in a nest. I was a little baby and God was the Papa bird. He was ruffling my feathers and she said that we were uncontrollably laughing in pure joy and enjoying each others company completely. OOOHHHH how incredibly glorious! That is SO amazing! The thought made me breathless at the time, and still kind of does.
The whole concept of God being our Papa, Daddy, Father... whatever you wanna call it... has been hard for me over the years, because of my relationship, or lack there of, with my dad. This has been something that He has been redeeming inside of me the past few years. During my senior year of high school God opened my eyes that my earthly family does NOT define me. It's His love that is my strength, and my identity is that of a Lover, in response to the One who loved me first!
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