Matt and I attended a conference last week that frankly, blew both of our minds. If anyone tells you that the Spirit of God is no longer active in our world, tell them they are wrong. I believe God guides our footsteps, each of us individually, and takes us where we need to go and when we need to be there. I don’t believe in accidents and when I meet someone I believe it is divinely appointed. I’ve learned as I am stepping into the that belief more and more just how careful I have to be with people’s hearts. Relationship comes with a lot of responsibility because if God intended us to be friends, He intends for me to lay my life down for you (John 15:13). The only way I know to offer that kind of love to anyone is through the Holy Spirit giving me the ability to do that. As I lean more into listening to that voice inside of me, the better I do life all the way around.
Anyway, back to the conference, I am not going to share the main stuff, yet (but it is really good!). I know that many do not have an understanding of the Holy Spirit and that is the Church’s fault so I want to share in such a way that it is helpful for others to hear God too, not scare them. I do believe that God is pouring out His Spirit in droves right now and that many will come to know Him through the works we saw last week. What Matt and I brought home from the teaching is asking God for a “word of the day”. I get a word for each year but this was new to me. One of the speakers said she gets scatter brained throughout the day and so to keep her focus on Christ she asks Him for a daily word. It resonated with me because I am scattered most of the time. What I asked Matt to do is ask God for a word for each other. We are just now learning to pray together in deep, meaningful ways and for more than a recited prayer. God has gotten us praying with other couples and each other, something every marriage needs. We’ve prayed together for a few years, daily, but the enemy kept stealing our intimate prayers and conversation with distractions. This is a way for us to ask the Holy Spirit to speak to each other through the other. We’ve been practicing this now for five days and it has been so helpful to our relationship, not to mention how God has spoken to us through our words. What we do is ask God in the morning for a word and offer it to the other. We each take the world given and when we have down time we talk to God about it throughout the day. It’s been really neat.
Today my word is SWORD. My thoughts first go to Ephesians 6 when we are told to put on the armor of God and it includes the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. As I wrote earlier, the Spirit is being poured out on us with favor right now, we just have to listen and know His voice. I didn’t have a clue how to hear the voice of the Holy Spirit until seven years ago when I really began to understand the Bible. I know the exact moment when I was “clued-in” on which voice was coming from Him and which voices were not. I started to read the Bible for myself so that I would have a basis for the truth so that the enemy would not be able to continue running my thoughts amok. As I have read, even though my memory is not as good as it used to be, I have so many promises rooted in me that I can speak out when I am being attacked with thoughts that don’t line up with truth. Not only promises but even talking about my memory I know that it is already healed because of Jesus. I am the one that has to know and believe truth. The Bible says I have the mind of Christ Jesus Himself (1 Corinthians 2:16) so it comes down to my own faith in the Healer. When I speak truth out of my mouth, the words penetrate to the deepest parts of me and that is where the Spirit speaks from and grows. Keeping my mind fixed on my word during down time has been a blessing already, I’ve rooted five words from the love and truth of God. I am going to continue to meditate on my word today, I have a feeling God wants to reveal a lot more.
Maybe you will feel challenged to find your word today and fix your mind on that word with God (Phil 4:8). I hope that you do and I pray that He will root something really special, just for you and Him. I pray your word will offer you hope and healing in such a way that you will want to continue this habit tomorrow. If you get a really special word, please share it with us and what God teaches you through it, I would love to be a part of what God is doing in your life.
“For the greatest love of all is a love that sacrifices all. And this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends.” John 14:13 TPT
“A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all the strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for believers everywhere.” Ephesians 6:10-18 NLT
“For, “Who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to teach him?” But we understand these things, for we have the mind of Christ.” 1 Corinthians 2:16 NLT
“And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final things. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” Philippians 4:8 NLT
As Beauty Unfolds... 