Prior to any gathering, I pray and thank Him for the anointing He bestows upon me to bring forth His words to these women. It amazes me how, if I cultivate the atmosphere of connection with the Holy Spirit, how He will fill me to the full. It is sometimes like stepping into the heat of a bath and the feeling of the warmth of the water as it covers you. I depend on Him for His indwelling to speak, to minister, to bring wisdom and to, most importantly, speak what He would have for those in front of me. I depend on it for daily life as well. And, He never ever fails. I laugh as most would say “boy that lady is full of energy” and it is 100% the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that lights me up the way they see me.
So, we shared in the group about walking though the valley of indecision and fear and some practical ways to make it to the mountain top. Was powerful for me that night with the honesty and truth these women were sharing. I am so grateful for them and their hearts and their love. It is such a reflection and symbol of Him and so real and tangible. I thank you, Lord!
It always ministers to me, the message the Lord brings in the group and it will often continue to minister to me long after the night is over. The Holy Spirit will shine His light of truth into my life, like a bright bulb, and illuminate the clarity of the Word in my own life. I pray always that no matter the vehicle or the messenger, that I receive what He continues to speak to me and not turn a deaf ear from His rebuke and His love for He chastens all those whom He loves. So it doesn’t surprise me this week to find myself contemplating the recent valleys of indecision and fear in my own existence following the gathering.
Recently, in my own life, I suffered an earthquake. Something that has come and challenged the sheer foundation of my belief and my life’s direction in many ways. As this recent tremor of a quake hit my life I find it a relief to feel His peace and comfort and to truly rely and believe Him and not my circumstances. It isn’t how something appears that matters. It is only the Truth that matters, despite the surroundings. It matters what God says only, not how it looks or how I feel about it.
True, the shaking of the earthquake took away my balance for a time. My heart was and is heavy with many emotions and the unanswered questions and unknown outcome But, because of the PRIOR investment into my relationship with Jesus, I found that I was not flailing around with arms to and fro, freaking out and anxious. Instead, I found truth to something someone wise spoke to me once upon a time….”sometimes God will calm the storm and sometimes God will calm the child and let the storm rage on and on.”
Ladies, it is never too late to invest! The Word tells us that you can call upon the name of the Lord and be saved! It isn’t about the storm for the earthquakes will come and shake our lives. Things won’t work out as we planned or in our timing, but it doesn’t mean they don’t work out in His time. We cannot wait to live until the storms pass for if you look around they never do. It is all those clichés about dancing in the rain that matter.
In the valleys and in the storms if we are connected with the Lord in a real way, there IS joy in our salvation. There is a lack of fear and a spirit of peace that dwells in our midst. I have come to welcome the storm!
Storms bring the rain! Just remember when you pray for the rain, you will have to deal with some mud! Rain brings renewal in our lives! The rain is a cleansing and a washing of the Word of God that presents us ever spotless and blameless before Him.
Remember, that you overcome the enemy by the word of your testimony and by the blood of the Lamb according to the book of Revelation. So testify in the rain. Sing out the joy and let the rain pour over you. Make it a public declaration to focus on those things above and not on the quake that hits your life!
You see, we have the hope and the truth that sets people free in their valleys and in their fear. But, if our own lives do not show the evidence of that being true, how will they want what we have????? It isn’t about having it all together and “looking the part” or getting over our “stuff” or waiting on the Lord to do something amazing to get “us” ready for service. It is about taking our eyes off of the storm, not fighting against the tide anymore, and just going with the flow of His leading and His love.
The storm will take care of itself - it always does.
Psalm 23:4 says:
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
Amen, Lord, amen.
Let it rain!
