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How to Celebrate Thanksgiving When You are Not Feeling It

We opened up the box and spread out all the domino pieces on the counter. Our friends, Ami and Chris, had joined us for an early Thanksgiving “friendsgiving” and game night. All day long, I’d been hankering for a bowl of chili out of my crockpot, and I couldn’t wait to taste the chocolate-covered strawberries for dessert. Everything was planned and ready to go. Exceptional fun was on the menu–until we counted all the dominoes.  

One piece was missing.  

I shrugged my shoulders and resigned myself to the inevitable. Something essential was gone, and I had no idea why it happened or how to fix it.  

That dollar store box of dominoes is kind of a metaphor for my life lately. I know God has asked me to keep participating in the game of life even though my box is currently missing all the required pieces for play.  

I confess some days I am just not feeling it. The holidays are especially hard. The boxes full of Christmas decorations are stacked in a corner, and I am pretty sure I am going to have a good cry if I unpack them.  

How do you celebrate Thanksgiving when you lack something vital to your joy? This is a conversation I’ve had with several brokenhearted friends who understand my dilemma. Perhaps this Thanksgiving you aren’t feeling festive because a chair at your table will be empty. Maybe someone is acting like they forgot your phone number, and you are sad. Perhaps you’d rather gobble down a few Oreos alone and skip the turkey entirely.  

Friend, I totally get how you feel. As we get closer to the holidays, all the brokenness in our lives becomes unavoidably painful. The sticky situations, the family dysfunction, the grudges people insist on bringing to the table — all of this makes me want to cancel Thanksgiving entirely and just avoid the discomfort.  

Yet, even though not everything is perfect and wrapped in a pretty box this Thanksgiving, I am blessed beyond measure. God is good, and He can heal all my broken places as He pours out His grace.  

Because I belong to God, there is always reason to celebrate. In hopes of reminding myself of this fact, I opened up my Bible and discovered 3 changes I can make to my mindset to stop being a grouch and step into gratitude this November:  

Here’s How You Can Celebrate Thanksgiving When You Don’t Feel It:Focus on what you’ve not lost, rather than on what you didn’t receive.  

 No matter how heartbreaking this year has been, God has set you free from condemnation. I confess I am quick to complain about my hardships, and I easily forget I’ve been fully forgiven. God’s kindness to sinners like you and me is a miracle, and that’s a gift of grace we cannot ever lose.  

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things….” (Psalm 103:2-5, NLT)Think about how much you are loved, not about how little you are appreciated.  

People we care about may disregard us and treat us with indifference, but God’s love pursues us relentlessly. The gaping hole in our heart can only be adequately filled by our Father’s tender care. When this world tries to tell you you are not valued, remind yourself you are His beloved. 

“…the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him.” (Psalm 103:16, ESV)Contemplate what stands eternally sure instead of what seems currently insurmountable.  

Any injustice you experience today will not thwart God’s triumphant plan for your life. Your God sits enthroned in heaven, and He will get the glory through every circumstance in the end. If your life seems chaotic and unbearable right now, fix your thoughts on the hope of heaven. God is on your side, and He never stops fighting for redemption.

“The Lord has made the heavens His throne; from there He rules over everything.” (Psalm 103:19, NLT)

Need more help to celebrate Thanksgiving when you don’t feel it? I’ve created a one-page printable for you to count your blessings from A to Z this month. Download a copy and grab a cup of tea. Then, find a quiet spot to sit down for a spell to reflect on how God has shown up for you in unexpected ways this past year.  Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. 

Bonus: I’m also going to count my blessings from A to Z on my Instagram and Facebook for the first 26 days in November, and I’d love for you to join me there and share yours.    

When we choose to bless the Lord in the midst of a difficult season, we stand rooted in God’s Word and not ruled by our feelings.  An inexplicable peace will fill our hearts because we know God’s goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives. We can cease from striving and give thanks because we know these 3 Truths:  

God is always good. He generously provides for our needs.

God will never stop loving us. He will never leave us or forsake us.  

God remains in control. Our future is secure.  

Trusting God with your tomorrow helps you to celebrate Thanksgiving today.

Trusting God with your tomorrow helps you to celebrate Thanksgiving today.

Click To Tweet Let’s Chat: What helps you to celebrate Thanksgiving when you are not feeling it? ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT YOUR NEXT STEP? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU CLARIFY THE CALLING GOD UNIQUELY CREATED YOU TO FULFILL.CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO START WORKING ON A PLAN TO REFINE YOUR PASSION AND PURPOSE.

 

 

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Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. As a courtesy, please link back to LyliDunbar.com in your post. Grab and share the #FaithOnFire button to spread the word. Use the hashtag #FaithOnFire to share your post and connect on Twitter. Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up and find #FaithFuel for your soul. Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment. (Note: First time members of the Faith on Fire Link-up Community are agreeing to sign up for my weekly email for writers. You can unsubscribe and continue to link-up if you do not find it helpful and encouraging.)

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The post How to Celebrate Thanksgiving When You are Not Feeling It appeared first on Lyli Dunbar.

What Happens When You Invite the Holy Spirit to Lead Your Prayers

Today, I am delighted to welcome my wise friend, Sarah, to encourage us as we pray: “Spirit, fall afresh on me.” 

In recent years, I’ve learned how to pray Spirit-led prayers. It’s an exciting adventure I had not been on until I read the book When You Need to Move a Mountain by Linda Evans Shepherd.

In this powerful book on intercessory prayer, Linda lists many examples of how different people pray for loved ones. They are people from all kinds of denominations and backgrounds with a common purpose – a fervent desire to pray for others in a way that makes a difference.

I was in a season of being called to pray on someone else’s behalf when this book came into my hands. It seemed like a gift straight from heaven when I needed guidance but didn’t know how to find it.

The book outlines ways to pray for others, all based on the Bible. The way that intrigued me most is praying Spirit-led prayers. It’s letting the Holy Spirit guide you while you are praying, so you are praying God’s revealed will for another person.

We read about the Holy Spirit’s prayers for us in Romans 8:26-27 NLT:

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.  And the Father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit is saying, for the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God’s own will. 

How many times have you not known what to pray, but asked God to hear the cries of your heart? Surely in those moments, when you did not have the words to pray, the Holy Spirit was interceding for you. He was praying for you in harmony with the Father’s will, as He always does.

The most amazing privilege about praying Spirit-led prayers is joining the Holy Spirit in intercession for another person’s benefit. If you ask the Holy Spirit to lead your prayers for someone else, He is all too eager to help you. Here is what I do to prepare for Spirit-led prayers:

First, I praise God for who he is. It’s important to humble yourself before God as you begin each prayer. Remember that He is in control, and you are submitting to Him in reverence.Next, I pray directly to the Holy Spirit, asking Him for guidance in my prayers. I pray that He will give me the words to say. I ask him to bring Scriptures to my mind so that I can pray them over the person. This is the fruit of daily Bible study and meditation because the Holy Spirit can then bring those verses back to the forefront of my mind as I am praying.Then, I begin praying for the person. I start with what I know, which is usually a felt need the person has expressed or one I have observed. Then, I silently wait for prayer prompts from the Holy Spirit. Saying the words, “Spirit, come fall afresh on me” is a good practice at this point of my prayer. Every time, He has been faithful to give me prayer prompts that I would not have come up with on my own. In this way, Spirit-led prayer is an exciting adventure.Finally, I end my prayers by praising God for revealing His truth and will to me. It’s always a joy to praise Him for guiding me in ways I would have never seen at the beginning, leading me to pray things in accordance with His will. It’s thrilling to reflect on the verses he brought to my mind and used as tools to pray more specifically for the person in need.

Does this process sound overwhelming to you? Exciting? A little frightening? This process can stir up many emotions when you are first embarking on Spirit-led prayer for others. However, it gets easier with practice, because you learn to trust God as you are taking one step forward at a time.

I encourage you to begin your own Spirit-led prayer journey. Which person is on your heart most often? Who needs your prayers of encouragement and support? The Holy Spirit wants to lead you on a unique and powerful journey of prayer for that person. He’s already praying for that person with groans that cannot be expressed. But it would be a great joy to him if you are willing to join him on that journey to intercede for someone who would benefit from your prayers.

Let’s pray with expectation: “Spirit, fall afresh on me.” 

The most amazing privilege about praying Spirit-led prayers is joining the Holy Spirit in intercession for another person’s benefit

Click To Tweet Meet Sarah

Sarah Geringer is a speaker, podcaster, artist and author of Transforming Your Thought Life: Christian Meditation in Focus and Transforming Your Thought Life for Teens: Renew Your Mind with God. She also has three self-published books.

She is on the devotional writing teams for Proverbs 31 Ministries, Hope-Full Living, Kingdom Edge Magazine and Woman 2 Woman Ministries. She has also written for A Wife Like Me and Devotable.

When she’s not reading over 100 books per year, Sarah enjoys painting, baking, gardening, and playing the flute. Her daily must-haves are hot tea, dark chocolate, and fresh flowers.

She lives in southeast Missouri with her husband and three children. Sarah writes and speaks about finding peace in God’s Word at sarahgeringer.com.

Follow Sarah: Facebook – Twitter – Instagram – Pinterest – YouTube

The Pray Big Sisterhood

Every morning, I wake up and lift my heart to God in prayer.

I praise Him for His glory and goodness.

I surrender my agenda and expectations to His greater kingdom purposes.

I yield my desires to do His will.

And, then I ask for Him to move a mountain.

I cry out to Him for that mountain to crumble.

 

I believe that God is bigger than any obstacle or stronghold.

Yet, my mountain remains — immovable and unyielding.

Do you have a mountain?   I bet you do.

 

Like me, you may be discouraged by the darkness that looms large in your view.

You aren’t alone. If we sat down today in my kitchen and shared our stories, I bet we would see similarities.

Together, we would ask God to move two mountains.

With worshipful hearts, let’s keep crying out to the Lord for those mountains to crumble.

Let’s pray big! Y’all his has been the craziest season ever, but I know that God has a bigger purpose than just our merely surviving the chaos. In hopes of redeeming the time in the weeks ahead, I am inviting you to “Pray Big” as we look to the Lord for even greater things to come.

Let’s ask God to help us have an expectant heart that is not overwhelmed by all the negativity in this world. Let’s pray big and believe God is bigger than the obstacles we are facing. Our Mighty God is going to do more than we can ask, think, or imagine as we pray with hope.   To encourage us on this journey, I have invited my wisest and most Spirit-lead friends to share their heart here in this space for a monthly #PrayBig Guest Post Series. We will start next week and cry out to God together..  

I also want to invite you to join a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for sisters to share our stories and surrender them to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s lift up holy hands together and pray big in community.  

To help you get started, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to strengthen your step and breathe fresh wind into your weary spirit.  

 If you are visiting from Sarah’s today, welcome to my little space on the web!Here you will find fuel for a wildfire faith to help youLOVE DEEP: Fervently extend God’s kindness and grace to pesky people.PRAY BIG: Go down fighting on your knees with fire in your bones.HOPE FULL: Stay tethered to a confident anticipation that keeps your heart ablaze.STAND STRONG: Rest courageously on God’s promises with red-hot resolve.

 

SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY. Challenge: 
BEGIN EACH DAY THIS WEEK BY PRAYING: Spirit, fall afresh on me.ARE YOU STUCK IN A SPIRITUAL RUT? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU SPARK A TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR LIFE.CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO DISCOVER STRATEGIES TO REKINDLE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. As a courtesy, please link back to LyliDunbar.com in your post. Grab and share the #FaithOnFire button to spread the word. Use the hashtag #FaithOnFire to share your post and connect on Twitter. Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up and find #FaithFuel for your soul. Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment. (Note: First time members of the Faith on Fire Link-up Community are agreeing to sign up for my weekly email for writers. You can unsubscribe and continue to link-up if you do not find it helpful and encouraging.)

Come grab your#FaithFuel at the #FaithOnFire #LinkUp. I’m sharing my burning passion with @LyliDunbar and friends.

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The post What Happens When You Invite the Holy Spirit to Lead Your Prayers appeared first on Lyli Dunbar.

The Mighty Power of One Faith-Filled Prayer

I’m a woman who believes in the power of prayer. I know that if I want to see a miracle, I need to get on my knees and cry out to God. Only God has the power to bring life out of dead-end situations. Only God can melt a heart of stone. Only God can heal what this world has poisoned.  

Jesus said one faith-filled prayer can move a mountain, and I know Jesus doesn’t lie. Yet, my mountain currently still stands. I’ve prayed and prayed and prayed…  Some days, I wonder if God is tired of hearing me beg Him to turn things around in my world, but I know He isn’t. I know He is listening.I know He cares. In the depths of my weary heart, I know that my pain matters to my God.  

So, I pray on. I pray on, and I won’t give up.  

I know I am not alone in the waiting room of unanswered prayers. I am surrounded by Mama Bears who pray on for their prodigals to turn to Jesus and stop destroying their lives. I know several brave caregivers who continue to intercede for their loved one to get up out of their sickbed. Every time I hear someone else tell me “we pray on,” I know I am not alone in this fight.

Neither are you, friend. I know you have cried out to God for a breakthrough. I know how hard it is to hold on to hope. Your prayers make a difference. Don’t give up.  

In hopes of encouraging my heart to persevere in prayer, I spent some time this week getting a little inspiration from a very gutsy woman who went straight to Jesus and refused to take no for an answer.  

The Mighty Power of One Faith-Filled Prayer

This woman pleaded with Jesus for help. Her daughter was cruelly afflicted by an evil spirit, and she had nowhere else to turn. 

Now, this story is not fiction. I know you may have seen a horror movie where with demon possession seems like a bizarre fantasy only found on the Hollywood film screen, but the power of evil in our world is a reality. We may not ever see someone’s head spinning and foaming at the mouth, but we all have loved ones bound by addiction. We all sadly know of a family that has broken apart and lives turned upside-down and destroyed. Evil is real, and we need to arm ourselves with faith and God’s truth and prayer to help shield our loved ones. Prayer helps us partner with God to stop the schemes of the enemy from causing even more chaos in our world. Prayer places us and our people in the circle of God’s protection.  

So, this Mama Bear in the pages of my Bible had a daughter who desperately needed help. She came running to Jesus and asked for HIs mercy.

I seriously need God’s mercy right now, so I have read her story over and over again this week in amazement. Her cause was just, and she refused to take no for an answer.

If you need God to turn things around in your world, I want you to know that Jesus has mercy for you. He has mercy for me. This woman’s story is reminder to us all that our prayers make a difference, and we should keep pressing into Jesus.  

You can read this woman’s story for yourself in Matthew 15:21-28 and Mark 7:24-30. Her gumption and grit to not give up have challenged me to follow her example as I continue to fight in prayer:  

I want to keep seeking with a steadfast heart.

This woman’s initial request to Jesus was met with silence. But the lack of response did not quiet her. She begged. She cried. She continually and consistently appealed for help. She remained steadfast and never wavered.  

A Scriptural Word of Encouragement as You Keep Seeking: “But I tell you this—though He won’t do it for friendship’s sake, if you keep knocking long enough, He will get up and give you whatever you need because of your shameless persistence. And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:8-10, NLT)I want to submit my will to God with a worshipful heart. 

Even though the answer from Jesus appeared to be “no,” this woman fell at His feet and worshipped. She knelt in reverence and showed that her life was totally yielded to Him as Lord no matter what.  

A Scriptural Word of Encouragement as You Submit to God’s Will: I love how David cries out to God in the Psalms when he is discouraged. I often turn to Psalms when my emotions are all in a jumble over difficult circumstances that just make no sense. This week, I was encouraged by Psalm 13. David starts out by asking God why he is suffering so much:  “God, O Lord, how long will You forget me? Forever? How long will You look the other way? How long must I struggle with anguish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart every day?  How long will my enemy have the upper hand? (vs 1-2, NLT).  But by the end of the Psalm, David has surrendered His emotions to God. He stops looking at his problems and reminds himself of what is true about His Heavenly Father: “But I trust in Your unfailing love. I will rejoice because You have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord  because He is good to me.” (vs 5-6, NLT)I want to see with eyes of faith and stand secure in God’s response.  

In a situation where other people would have withered from disappointment, this woman showed fortitude. Although Jesus did not initially give her what she wanted, she responds by saying “Yes, Lord” in agreement. She concedes her position, but she doesn’t view His response as excluding her humble request. She asserts her faith with two words that appeal to God’s compassion and and acknowledge His power: “yet even.”  

Right now your mountain and mine might still stand, but that doesn’t mean they always will.  “Yet even” you and I can experience a miracle. We have a God who cares about us, and He is able to breathe life into any dead-end situation. Where evil has triumphed up to now can instantly be transformed by just a word from the Master.  

A Scriptural Word of Encouragement as You Cry out “Yet Even” to your God: This woman told Jesus that she was ready to receive the scraps from His table. But guess what? God has more than scraps for you and me! Our Protector has reserved a seat for us as His table: “You spread out a table before me, provisions in the midst of attack from my enemies; You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil, filling my cup again and again with Your grace.” (Psalm 23:5, VOICE)

Friend, your Lord never remains unresponsive to your faith-filled prayer.

Want some inspiration to pray with power? To help you get started, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to move mountains.  Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.

Let’s resolve to never give up praying for God to do the miraculous. As we fall down at Jesus’ feet and beg for help, we will receive blessing upon blessing from His table. 

A woman who falls at Jesus’ feet with great faith can make a powerful difference.  

A woman who falls at Jesus’ feet with great faith can make a powerful difference.

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Let’s Pray Big together: Share your one-word prayer request or a longer request in the comments below.

Looking for more encouragement? I want to invite you to join a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for sisters to share our stories and surrender them to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s lift up holy hands together and pray big in community.  

ARE YOU STUCK IN A SPIRITUAL RUT? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU SPARK A TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR LIFE.CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO DISCOVER STRATEGIES TO REKINDLE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?

 

SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY.

Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. As a courtesy, please link back to LyliDunbar.com in your post. Grab and share the #FaithOnFire button to spread the word. Use the hashtag #FaithOnFire to share your post and connect on Twitter. Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up and find #FaithFuel for your soul. Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment. (Note: First time members of the Faith on Fire Link-up Community are agreeing to sign up for my weekly email for writers. You can unsubscribe and continue to link-up if you do not find it helpful and encouraging.)

Come grab your#FaithFuel at the #FaithOnFire #LinkUp. I’m sharing my burning passion with @LyliDunbar and friends.

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You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The post The Mighty Power of One Faith-Filled Prayer appeared first on Lyli Dunbar.

1 Simple Way Doubt Can Lead to Faith

Today, I am delighted to welcome my wise friend, Sarah, to encourage us to expel doubt as we pray: “Lord, help me be still and know You are God.” 

One day in the middle of March my life shifted. Have you ever had one of those moments you look back on and think, “Yes, that’s when life become completely different.” It was March 9, 2015. You might think I’m crazy to remember a certain date like that, but my life truly changed after we were handed our daughter in a government office in downtown ZhengZhou, China.  At first, it seemed God had completely knocked us down. My husband and I realized right away that our newly adopted daughter with “minor” special needs would have “major” special needs. Suddenly, the future I pictured in my mind was filled with fears and doubts.

What would long-time care look like? Would she ever talk? Walk? Interact with us? We were stunned to say the least, but as the weeks and months went by, we stayed above the waters, barely. God was with us, but He wasn’t speaking. God was near, but we couldn’t always feel His presence. For me, I felt my faith shift because suddenly life was hard. The future I had carefully planned for myself was clouded. My faith was suddenly filled with questions.

As I took my questions to God, but He didn’t also have the Sunday school answers I had grown up hearing in church. Do you have questions today that fill you mind with doubt? Hannah Whitall Smith said, “They are not your doubts until you adopt them as your own.” In other words, doubts can own us, but we don’t have to let them. Do you believe that your faith and doubt can live side by side?

I had faith that God had led us to adopt our sweet girl, but I had so many doubts about how I would be able to mother her or take care of her long-term. I didn’t realize that having doubts doesn’t mean we don’t have faith. In Psalm 46:1-2 the psalmist makes some pretty contradictory statements as well:

God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

How could the Psalmist say the mountains are crumbling and the waters are rising, but he will not fear? During the first year home with our daughter I truly felt as if my world was falling apart. And at first, I was very afraid. I didn’t know how to reconcile a loving, kind God who would allow my daughter to suffer so. Psalm 46:2 described my life perfectly. I was drowning in my doubts.

Friend, if you are feeling the weight of the water of suffering pressing you down, I pray you will look up and see a hand above the waves. That hand is God, and He is found in the Word. How do we conquer doubts? We rest. At first I tried to rationalize or explain away my doubts. There came a point about a year after we adopted our daughter when I just cried out to God in anger, fear, and frustration. I confessed my lack of faith and asked for answers.

God’s answer to me was Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God.” Be still. Stop striving. Stop trying to fix things. Just be still and know. Get to know the God who is the Lord of hosts and God of Jacob (Psalm 46:11). This God whom the psalmist wrote about in Psalm 46 is a God who was both powerful and personal.

In those moments when doubt clouds my thinking, I look instead to who God is. Life will not tell me who God is. People will not tell me. Only God’s Word and through prayer can I see this Powerful and Personal God who rescues me from my doubts. A daily reading of God’s Word is the only way to expel the doubts from my mind.

My doubts remain even now. I don’t have the answers, but I do have faith. I have faith because I had doubts. God used that time in my life to reveal that faith can overcome doubt. Take your questions and doubts to the Creator and Sustainer of life, and you will find the faith needed to rise above the pain. You’ll discover the kindness and goodness of God!

 

Lord, help me be still and know You are God.

Struggling with doubt? Stop trying to fix things. Just be still and know He is God. 

Click To Tweet Meet Sarah:

Sarah E. Frazer is a writer and Bible study mentor at sarahefrazer.com. Sarah is the wife of Jason and mother of five. She and her family serve as full-time missionaries in Honduras. Her passion is to encourage women to start today with a Bible reading and prayer habit. Sarah is the author of several self-published Bible study resources for women. She shares tools and encouragement for Bible and prayer study at sarahefrazer.com. Follow her on Instagram and download her FREE Prayer Planner here! 

The Pray Big Sisterhood

Every morning, I wake up and lift my heart to God in prayer.

I praise Him for His glory and goodness.

I surrender my agenda and expectations to His greater kingdom purposes.

I yield my desires to do His will.

And, then I ask for Him to move a mountain.

I cry out to Him for that mountain to crumble.

 

I believe that God is bigger than any obstacle or stronghold.

Yet, my mountain remains — immovable and unyielding.

Do you have a mountain?   I bet you do.

 

Like me, you may be discouraged by the darkness that looms large in your view.

You aren’t alone. If we sat down today in my kitchen and shared our stories, I bet we would see similarities.

Together, we would ask God to move two mountains.

With worshipful hearts, let’s keep crying out to the Lord for those mountains to crumble.

Let’s pray big! Y’all his has been the craziest season ever, but I know that God has a bigger purpose than just our merely surviving the chaos. In hopes of redeeming the time in the weeks ahead, I am inviting you to “Pray Big” as we look to the Lord for even greater things to come.

Let’s ask God to help us have an expectant heart that is not overwhelmed by all the negativity in this world. Let’s pray big and believe God is bigger than the obstacles we are facing. Our Mighty God is going to do more than we can ask, think, or imagine as we pray with hope.   To encourage us on this journey, I have invited my wisest and most Spirit-lead friends to share their heart here in this space for a monthly #PrayBig Guest Post Series. We will start next week and cry out to God together..  

I was to also invite you to join a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for sisters to share our stories and surrender them to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s lift up holy hands together and pray big in community.  

To help you get started, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to strengthen your step and breathe fresh wind into your weary spirit.  

 If you are visiting from Sarah’s today, welcome to my little space on the web!Here you will find fuel for a wildfire faith to help youLOVE DEEP: Fervently extend God’s kindness and grace to pesky people.PRAY BIG: Go down fighting on your knees with fire in your bones.HOPE FULL: Stay tethered to a confident anticipation that keeps your heart ablaze.STAND STRONG: Rest courageously on God’s promises with red-hot resolve.

 

SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY. Challenge: BEGIN EACH DAY THIS WEEK BY PRAYING: Lord, help me be still and know You are God.ARE YOU STUCK IN A SPIRITUAL RUT? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU SPARK A TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR LIFE.CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO DISCOVER STRATEGIES TO REKINDLE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. As a courtesy, please link back to LyliDunbar.com in your post. Grab and share the #FaithOnFire button to spread the word. Use the hashtag #FaithOnFire to share your post and connect on Twitter. Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up and find #FaithFuel for your soul. Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment. (Note: First time members of the Faith on Fire Link-up Community are agreeing to sign up for my weekly email for writers. You can unsubscribe and continue to link-up if you do not find it helpful and encouraging.)

Come grab your#FaithFuel at the #FaithOnFire #LinkUp. I’m sharing my burning passion with @LyliDunbar and friends.

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When You Need to Pray: “Lord, Set Captives Free”

Today, I am delighted to welcome my wise friend, Kelley, to encourage us as we pray: Lord, set captives free.

More than two decades later, I can vividly recall how my pulse quickened and my stomach clenched as my friend walked out the door for her Friday night plans. She had a track record of making choices that led to regret, and my gut told me she was heading toward more trouble.

Whether they’re a family member, co-worker, friend, or neighbor, it’s an alarming feeling to watch a person you care about run down a path that will inevitably lead them into a pit. We often search for ways to intervene, and that’s not always wrong. But it’s a heavy burden to bear when we take on the responsibility of rescuing someone from their cycle of sin. Rarely do we have the power, resources, or authority to change someone’s circumstances, much less their heart. But we know the One who does.

Isaiah 61:1 records a prophetic message of hope that Jesus would ultimately declare and fulfill:

The Spirit of the Lord God is on me, because the  Lord  has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners…

Isaiah 61:1 (CSB)

Throughout history, God’s people have repeatedly turned away from Him. The Jews’ were so relentless in their rebellion that it took a 70-year exile in Babylon to bring them to repentance. But God never gave up on them and always remained faithful as He waited for the right time to send the ultimate Rescuer, His Son.

Setting captives free was Jesus’ ministry. He gave His life for us so we no longer have to be prisoners of sin and death. For those who place their trust and faith in Jesus, He not only forgives their sin but also frees them from the power of sin. No one is beyond the reach of His redeeming hand.

Jesus’ ministry is now also our mission. He has called us to share the Good News of the Gospel, to “proclaim liberty to the captives,” to show the way to salvation. It’s not our responsibility to save anyone, but it is our calling to point them to the Savior.

When in doubt of what to do or say, we can hit our knees to pray. I love Richard Foster’s quote that says, “If we truly love people, we will desire for them far more than it is within our power to give them, and this will lead us to prayer: Intercession is a way of loving others.”

The power of intercessory prayer happens when we stand in the gap between God and others and plead on their behalf. We earnestly ask God to step in with His help, guidance, knowledge, wisdom, healing, or deliverance. As Paul testified, God even enables us to find joy and contentment when physically imprisoned.

As we call on the name of Jesus, the powers of darkness are weakened through our prayers and petitions. And on those days when worry or heartbreak overwhelm us, when we can’t seem to form words, much less a prayer, the Holy Spirit intercedes for us. (Romans 8:26-27)

A word of warning: the enemy thrives on distracting and discouraging believers, especially when we pray a prayer as powerful and faith-filled as “Lord, set captives free.” But don’t fear! Paul reminds us in 2 Corinthians 10:3-4 (NIV): “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.”  We may live in a world under the enemy’s influence, but we are never outside of God’s providence. Trust the Lord to fight your battles.

What else can we do as we wait for God to move in our loved one’s life?

We love with patience and grace.

We depend upon the Holy Spirit for strength and endurance.

We nourish our souls with the Bread of Life —God’s Word.

We continue to persevere in prayer.

We trust in the Lord’s power and providence to break the chains that bind.

And we celebrate God’s faithfulness like the psalmist who praised God with these words:

He brought them out of darkness and gloom and broke their chains apart.

Psalm 107:14-15 (CSB)

The reality of this life is that we all have moments of feeling trapped, whether it’s in a cycle of sin or a set of circumstances we can’t escape. 

Maybe today you feel stuck in a spiritual rut, hurt by a relationship, or disappointed by unfulfilled dreams, and you’re struggling to move forward. 

Friends, we must remember that just as we can’t free our loved ones from their chains, we won’t secure personal victory on our own. The incredible news is that we can see our family and friends experience spiritual freedom as we pray:  

Lord, set captives free. 

We may live in a world under the enemy’s influence, but we are never outside of God’s providence. Trust the Lord to fight your battles.

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Kelley Brown is a Bible teacher, speaker and writer. Holding a Master’s degree in Theological Studies from Beeson Divinity School, she enjoys equipping women to study the Bible with confidence and curiosity. In addition to writing for the First 5 app, Kelley is a regular contributor to LifeWay’s devotional magazine Journey and serves her local church as Director of Women’s Ministry. She and her husband, Scott, live in Birmingham, AL with their four children (2 biological, 2 adopted). She would love to connect with you via Instagram, Facebook or at kelleybrown.com.

The Pray Big Sisterhood

Every morning, I wake up and lift my heart to God in prayer.

I praise Him for His glory and goodness.

I surrender my agenda and expectations to His greater kingdom purposes.

I yield my desires to do His will.

And, then I ask for Him to move a mountain.

I cry out to Him for that mountain to crumble.

 

I believe that God is bigger than any obstacle or stronghold.

Yet, my mountain remains — immovable and unyielding.

Do you have a mountain?   I bet you do.

 

Like me, you may be discouraged by the darkness that looms large in your view.

You aren’t alone. If we sat down today in my kitchen and shared our stories, I bet we would see similarities.

Together, we would ask God to move two mountains.

With worshipful hearts, let’s keep crying out to the Lord for those mountains to crumble.

Let’s pray big! Y’all his has been the craziest season ever, but I know that God has a bigger purpose than just our merely surviving the chaos. In hopes of redeeming the time in the weeks ahead, I am inviting you to “Pray Big” as we look to the Lord for even greater things to come.

Let’s ask God to help us have an expectant heart that is not overwhelmed by all the negativity in this world. Let’s pray big and believe God is bigger than the obstacles we are facing. Our Mighty God is going to do more than we can ask, think, or imagine as we pray with hope.   To encourage us on this journey, I have invited my wisest and most Spirit-lead friends to share their heart here in this space for a monthly #PrayBig Guest Post Series. We will start next week and cry out to God together..  

I was to also invite you to join a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for sisters to share our stories and surrender them to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s lift up holy hands together and pray big in community.  

Do you want to see God set captives free in your community? God moves big mountains as we pray big and believe. To help you get started, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to strengthen your step and breathe fresh wind into your weary spirit.  

 If you are visiting from Kelley’s today, welcome to my little space on the web!Here you will find fuel for a wildfire faith to help youLOVE DEEP: Fervently extend God’s kindness and grace to pesky people.PRAY BIG: Go down fighting on your knees with fire in your bones.HOPE FULL: Stay tethered to a confident anticipation that keeps your heart ablaze.STAND STRONG: Rest courageously on God’s promises with red-hot resolve.

 

SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY. Challenge: BEGIN EACH DAY THIS WEEK BY PRAYING: LORD, SET Captives free.ARE YOU STUCK IN A SPIRITUAL RUT? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU SPARK A TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR LIFE.CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO DISCOVER STRATEGIES TO REKINDLE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. As a courtesy, please link back to LyliDunbar.com in your post. Grab and share the #FaithOnFire button to spread the word. Use the hashtag #FaithOnFire to share your post and connect on Twitter. Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up and find #FaithFuel for your soul. Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment. (Note: First time members of the Faith on Fire Link-up Community are agreeing to sign up for my weekly email for writers. You can unsubscribe and continue to link-up if you do not find it helpful and encouraging.)

Come grab your#FaithFuel at the #FaithOnFire #LinkUp. I’m sharing my burning passion with @LyliDunbar and friends.

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When You Need to Know the God of Peace is with You

Somewhere right now across the world a woman is hiding in her home and praying she will be invisible and safe. She fears going out in public. Her thimble size portion of temporary freedom slipped away in the blink of an eye, and her life will never be the same again. If she knows the God of Peace, I pray she feels His presence.   

I think we’ve all been carrying the weight of the world on our shoulders this week. The heartbreak is heavy. Our weary hearts just can’t take it. We lack the right words to even voice how we feel.  

My hearts grieves for this woman. The pain this innocent victim is experiencing makes all the suffering I am walking through seem almost trivial. I get to wear whatever I want and go to T.J Maxx and Paneras as therapy for my pain. She gets to live like a caged animal. 

God did not create us for this. He never wanted us to have to hide.  

Yet, I hide all the time. I close off my heart and hope no one will notice. I confess I’ve developed a little bit of cynicism when God doesn’t immediately intervene to turn around a terrible situation. My heavy heart starts to develop a hard outer shell to protect myself from what seems unfathomable.  

Sometimes we like to blame God for the things we don’t like about our world. We fault Him for our best friend’s cancer diagnosis and our teenager’s addiction problem. God could have turned our marriage around and helped us land that job we so desperately needed. We ask “Why God?” and shake our fists when things don’t go our way.  

Then we hunker down and try to become invisible. We hide from conflict. We cover our sin and doubt and pray no one notices. We tell each other “I’m fine” when in reality we are running away from God because we’re kind of mad at Him. 

Hiding pushes down our pain, but will never bring us peace.  

I can turn off the news and stop taking phone calls from the people I don’t like, but that won’t solve my problem. I won’t find true lasting peace by binge watching Netflix until I feel better. Our sin-saturated world seeps in to wherever I am escaping and reminds me of the ugly stuff that makes no sense.  

My peace does not equal an absence of problems. If my peace is tied to my circumstances, I will always end up hopelessly frustrated.  

A couple of weeks ago, I was reading my Bible when I tripped across a phrase in Romans that grabbed my attention: 

The God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Romans 15:33, NIV

This simple one-sentence prayer reminded me of two things I easily forget when I am hurting: 

God is a God of peace.God is with me.  

I started hunting in my Bible for every time the phrase “God of Peace” is used — because I could really use God’s peace right now. I am desperately trying to remember that my circumstances are subject to change, but God forever remains the firm foundation under my feet. My God can give me His peace even when life makes no sense.  

What I discovered about the God of Peace truly encouraged my weary heart. I pray that these 3 unchanging truths will fill you with an unshakeable confidence that your God is near, and He cares for you. The God of Peace stands with you today — no matter where you are hiding.    

3 Ways the God of Peace is with you today:The God of Peace has embraced you and  set you apart as wholly His.

 Your Heavenly Father has a purpose and plan for your life. As you spend time with Jesus, His Spirit is at work in your life to make you more and more whole. Your reflection grows progressively more like your Savior every day. Friend, you have come a long way with God, and He is still quietly at work in your life transforming you from the inside out. No matter what chaotic circumstances may surround you today, the God of Peace can accomplish a beautiful  work within you if you surrender all to Him.

“Now may the God of Peace Himself make you completely holy and may your spirit and soul and body be kept entirely blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Thessalonians 5:23, NET)The God of Peace empowers you to fulfill your destiny.

God has a job for you to accomplish, and He has promised to give you the strength and ability to successfully complete every task. The work may seem overwhelming, but you can trust your Maker is at work to provide everything you need to do your work. You may feel like you are failing miserably where the Lord has placed you, but the God of Peace sees your obedience and has comitted to fully equip you.  

“Now may the God of Peace Who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to Whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” (Hebrews 13:20-21, ESV)The God of Peace will eradicate the enemy and triumph over all evil.  

While we are here on earth, we will experience temporary conflict. But we can arm ourselves with the hope of the resurrection to stay standing. The victory to secure our eternal peace was already won at the cross. In the end, the God of Peace will prevail, and we will celebrate at the feet of our conquering King. 

“The God of Peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” (Romans 16:20, ESV)

 Are you finding it hard to remember the God of Peace is with you right now? I’ve created a one-page printable with 10 Scriptures to help you plug into God’s peace. Grab a copy and spend the next 10 days focusing on how your God is you shalom. Every morning, you can sit at His feet and strengthen your walk as you remind yourself the God of Peace cares for you.  Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.

 

Peace is God’s gift to you and me. Our tranquility is not found in a pain free life, but because we have the abiding presence of God in our lives. Even when chaos fills the world around us, the God of Peace can flood our hearts with an inner calm and joy. He holds our future in His mighty hands. We can lay every concern at His feet and trust He will safeguard our lives. The more we draw near to God, the more we will experience His unexplainable peace.

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.

2 Corinthians 13:11, NIV

While this world rages with confusion and doubt, the quietness of spirit we experience as believers sets us apart. God has placed us here as His peacemakers to help the lost and broken find salvation. God pours His peace into our lives so that His love can overflow out of our hearts and point our friends and family to true hope.  

Feeling anxious? Quiet your heart today. God is near and whispering “Peace be still” over whatever storm surrounds you.  

Never forget the God of Peace is with you without fail. 

Never forget the God of Peace is with you without fail. 

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Let’s Chat: What helps you remember the God of peace is with you? Are you feeling overwhelmed by your commitments and constantly running on empty? CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO HELP YOU develop a plan to Refuel with rest and soul care.

 

ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?

 

SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY.

Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. As a courtesy, please link back to LyliDunbar.com in your post. Grab and share the #FaithOnFire button to spread the word. Use the hashtag #FaithOnFire to share your post and connect on Twitter. Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up and find #FaithFuel for your soul. Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment. (Note: First time members of the Faith on Fire Link-up Community are agreeing to sign up for my weekly email for writers. You can unsubscribe and continue to link-up if you do not find it helpful and encouraging.)

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Come grab your#FaithFuel at the #FaithOnFire #LinkUp. I’m sharing my burning passion with @LyliDunbar and friends.

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What You Can Absolutely Know for Sure in Today’s Uncertain Times

“What’s next?” A friend asked me this question the other day, and I shrugged my shoulders and said, “I have absolutely no idea.” Right now, I don’t know if I am coming or going. I can’t make plans or really think about much because I feel like I am at a standstill in my life. I am hostage to circumstances that are out of my control. I feel like I am waiting for either the biggest miracle of my life to happen at the last minute or the worst disaster to crush me. These are uncertain times, and I don’t know what’s next. 

I’m living in the messy in-between as I wait for my miracle. Will God answer my prayer the way I want Him to answer? Maybe. Maybe not. I just don’t know.  

Here is what I do know: God is God, and I am not. I don’t get to decide what’s next in this complicated situation. My job is to trust God is in control. My job is to remember He is a good Father who cares about me. My job is to wait for HIs perfect timing and not freak out in the meantime.  

I am working on that not freaking out part. Some days, I do better than others.  

Feeling out of control during uncertain times can make us question everything. We look up to heaven and ask “Why God?” Why aren’t you turning this around? When we don’t understand what God is doing, our faith can sometimes losing its footing. We are shaken. Nothing seems sure anymore.  

I am so tired of telling people “I don’t know,” but the truth is I am a little scared. Circumstances are subject to change at any moment in this broken world. I feel completely incapable of handling it all. But thankfully, I can trust my God holds my whole world in His mighty hands.  

As I wait and pray for God to turn things around, I am trying to remind myself that there are some things in my life that I can know for sure. Even in uncertain times, some truths are absolute and unchanging.  

Maybe like me, you are fighting hard to keep the faith when things aren’t going your way. If you need a little pep talk to keep going, I want to share 3 unchanging truths that are helping me find courage during this most uncertain season.

Here’s 3 Things You Can Know for Sure Today:  God fits everything that happens in your life into His best plan for you.

 God is able to orchestrate every event in your life into something beautiful and redemptive in the end.

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)Everything you’ve placed in God’s hands is safe and secure.  

God will protect everything you surrender to His care. 

“…for I know Whom I have believed, and I am convinced that He is able to guard until that day what has been entrusted to me.” (2 Timothy 1:12, ESV)Nothing you do for the the Lord is ever useless.

You are never wasting your time when you are serving Jesus.  

“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abouding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.” (I Corinthians 15:58)

Need more help during these uncertain times? I’ve created a one-page printable with 10 Scriptural Promises to help you know YOU WILL NOT BE SHAKEN. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Grab a copy and spend the next 7 days focusing on how your God is able to help see you through anything. Every morning, you can sit at His feet and strengthen your walk as you remind yourself your faithful God is in control.  Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.

 

Friends, we know the Truth that God wins in the end. We can walk in full freedom today because every moment of our lives is under God’s authority. We can rejoice even on the hardest day because our suffering produces endurance. Our fellowship with Jesus during times of adversity helps us grow. We are not the women we once were — we are armed in with and filled with hope that this world cannot take away. 

We know Jesus. Our Savior never changes, and He certainly will get the glory in and through our lives in the end.  

Knowing Jesus is trustworthy helps us face uncertain times.

Knowing Jesus is trustworthy helps us face uncertain times.

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Let’s Chat: What do you “know” about God that gives you courage to face uncertain times? ARE YOU STRUGGLING TO FIGURE OUT YOUR NEXT STEP? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU CLARIFY THE CALLING GOD UNIQUELY CREATED YOU TO FULFILL.CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO START WORKING ON A PLAN TO REFINE YOUR PASSION AND PURPOSE.

 

 

ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?

 

SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY.

Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. As a courtesy, please link back to LyliDunbar.com in your post. Grab and share the #FaithOnFire button to spread the word. Use the hashtag #FaithOnFire to share your post and connect on Twitter. Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up and find #FaithFuel for your soul. Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment. (Note: First time members of the Faith on Fire Link-up Community are agreeing to sign up for my weekly email for writers. You can unsubscribe and continue to link-up if you do not find it helpful and encouraging.)

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When You Need to Pray “Teach me to do Your Will, Lord”

Today, I am delighted to welcome my wise friend, Michelle, to encourage us as we pray: Lord, teach me to do Your will and surrender mine.

I’ll never forget the day. I had been working over 100 hours a week in my private practice; I worked at the office seeing patient after patient during the day before writing up patient reports in the evening. I returned home at midnight or one in the morning for a quick shower and short nap before returning to the office by three or four in the morning to start the next day. My husband had been diagnosed with cancer, and I took it on as my responsibility to work more to compensate for what he couldn’t do.

The problem was, God never asked me to be my own provider. I appointed myself to that role, and He let me follow my own free will until I learned to do His.

That morning I was assessing a patient when I doubled over in pain. Moments later, I was on my way to the emergency room. What ensued was two surgeries, five months of medically-induced bedrest, dwindling down from 113 pounds to a skeletal 74, and being kept alive on IV-hydration and nutrition.

I could no longer be a doctor for my patients, much less much of a wife or mother. The longer I remained on bedrest, the more depressed I became. If that was going to be my life, I wasn’t sure I wanted to continue living. I questioned my worth and my identity. If I could no longer be a doctor, what good was I?

As I cried out to the Lord in my physical and emotional anguish, I clearly sensed Him whisper to my spirit, “I never asked you to work that hard. My yoke is easy and my burden is light. If you never work another day, I will not love you less. But if you go back to working all hours of the day and night, I will not love you more. You think I love you because of what you do, but I love you because you are mine.”

It was a time of awakening for me. I grew up in the church, and accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was seven, but I had not truly made Him Lord. Moving forward, I determined to seek His will for my life rather than my own. When I returned to my private practice to see patients, I did so out of gratitude that the Lord saved my life. It became my offering and sacrifice to Him, rather than trying to earn His love or be my own provider.

Scripture reminds us, “Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground” (Psalm 143:10 NIV).

Friend, the world encourages us to do more and be more. But God never asks us to do anything that He doesn’t equip us to do. And He never asks us to do His will in our own strength, but with His. He will never put on us any burden that is too heavy for us to bear, but we must guard against putting more on our plate than He would. God is not looking for weary soldiers, but instead rested warriors.

“For My yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light” (Matthew 11:30 NLT).

As you go about your day, offer it to Him. When you are weary, He offers you rest. When you are burdened, He offers to carry it for you. When you are weak, He lends you His strength. As we learn His ways, we learn His heart, which is always for us.

I now start my day with a prayer like this: Father, so many things clamor for my attention. The tasks that I think need to be done are great. But I only want to do what You ask me to do. Teach me to do Your will instead of mine. I surrender this day to You. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

My life changed for the better when I started each day surrendering it to God in prayer. Would you consider doing the same? At times it seems like a bold prayer because it means putting aside my own agenda and trusting His. But His plan is always perfect.

As we ask God to teach us His ways, our priorities will change, our load won’t be as heavy, and we will be satisfied in doing less because in God’s economy when we obey His leading the reward is great.

Lord, teach me to do Your will and surrender mine. 

God is not looking for weary soldiers, but instead rested warriors.

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Meet Michelle

Dr. Michelle Bengtson is a board-certified clinical neuropsychologist, multi-award winning author, speaker, and podcast host whose mission it is to restore hope, renew minds, and empower others to live in their God-given identity. She loves offering practical resources to help you grow in your walk with the Lord. For more encouragement, follow her at DrMichelleB.com, find her books on Amazon, or listen to her podcast here. She provides daily written inspiration on Facebook and visual inspiration on Pinterest.

Her books Breaking Anxiety’s Grip and Hope Prevails as well as the Hope Prevails Bible Study will help equip you with tools to cope with the crushing emotional burden of anxiety and depression.  

The Pray Big Sisterhood

Every morning, I wake up and lift my heart to God in prayer.

I praise Him for His glory and goodness.

I surrender my agenda and expectations to His greater kingdom purposes.

I yield my desires to do His will.

And, then I ask for Him to move a mountain.

I cry out to Him for that mountain to crumble.

 

I believe that God is bigger than any obstacle or stronghold.

Yet, my mountain remains — immovable and unyielding.

Do you have a mountain?   I bet you do.

 

Like me, you may be discouraged by the darkness that looms large in your view.

You aren’t alone. If we sat down today in my kitchen and shared our stories, I bet we would see similarities.

Together, we would ask God to move two mountains.

The Holy Spirit will teach us how to pray even if we can’t find words.

With worshipful hearts, let’s keep crying out to the Lord for those mountains to crumble.

Let’s pray big! Y’all his has been the craziest season ever, but I know that God has a bigger purpose than just our merely surviving the chaos. In hopes of redeeming the time in the weeks ahead, I am inviting you to “Pray Big” as we look to the Lord for even greater things to come.

Let’s ask God to help us have an expectant heart that is not overwhelmed by all the negativity in this world. Let’s pray big and believe God is bigger than the obstacles we are facing. Our Mighty God is going to do more than we can ask, think, or imagine as we pray with hope.  He will teach us how to pray as we get on our knees.   To encourage us on this journey, I have invited my wisest and most Spirit-lead friends to share their heart here in this space for a monthly #PrayBig Guest Post Series. We will start next week and cry out to God together..  

I was to also invite you to join a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for sisters to share our stories and surrender them to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s lift up holy hands together and pray big in community.  

To help you get started, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to strengthen your step and breathe fresh wind into your weary spirit.  

Lord, teach us to pray.  

 If you are visiting from Michelle’s today, welcome to my little space on the web!Here you will find fuel for a wildfire faith to help youLOVE DEEP: Fervently extend God’s kindness and grace to pesky people.PRAY BIG: Go down fighting on your knees with fire in your bones.HOPE FULL: Stay tethered to a confident anticipation that keeps your heart ablaze.STAND STRONG: Rest courageously on God’s promises with red-hot resolve.

 

SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY. Challenge:BEGIN EACH DAY THIS WEEK BY PRAYING: LORD, teach me to do Your will and surrender mine.ARE YOU STUCK IN A SPIRITUAL RUT? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU SPARK A TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR LIFE.CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO DISCOVER STRATEGIES TO REKINDLE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR RESOURCES TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?FRIENDS: AS A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCER, I HAVE A SWEET LIST OF MY FAVORITE RESOURCES TO FUEL A WILDFIRE FAITH IN MY VERY OWN SHOP ON AMAZON.  (NOTE: I WILL GET A LITTLE SOMETHING BACK IF YOU FOLLOW ANY OF THE LINKS IN THIS POST AND BUY ANYTHING ON THIS PAGE. THANKS IN ADVANCE IF YOU DO.).

Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. As a courtesy, please link back to LyliDunbar.com in your post. Grab and share the #FaithOnFire button to spread the word. Use the hashtag #FaithOnFire to share your post and connect on Twitter. Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up and find #FaithFuel for your soul. Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment. (Note: First time members of the Faith on Fire Link-up Community are agreeing to sign up for my weekly email for writers. You can unsubscribe and continue to link-up if you do not find it helpful and encouraging.)

Come grab your#FaithFuel at the #FaithOnFire #LinkUp. I’m sharing my burning passion with @LyliDunbar and friends.

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3 Ways to Survive During the Darkest Night of Your Soul

Sometimes God is silent and does not seem to answer my prayers. Things only seem to get worse, and I wonder what He is up to as I watch everything I love fall apart. This year I have asked “why” more than any other year of my life. I’m truly trying to survive the darkest night of my soul.  

I can’t see how God is at work.

I don’t understand why God isn’t changing my circumstances.

I can’t see a purpose that makes sense for all the pain I am experiencing.

Yet, I know He is God, and I am not. The Lord is good. My Heavenly Father is always right. He sees the bigger picture I cannot understand.  

Friends, sometimes life gets so dark that we cannot feel the Light of God’s love. We feel suffocated by the despair of unanswered prayers and broken relationships. Maybe you are reading this right now and nodding your head “yes” because you feel lost and wonder if your life will ever get back to normal again. The darkest night of our soul can feel like an endless waiting room where anxiety has you handcuffed. You can’t go back to yesterday and find your joy, and you aren’t sure you even have the strength left to face an uncertain tomorrow.  

I am so thankful that God has promised to collect all our tears in a bottle. He understands our sadness and confusion. He has not left us alone here to figure out what’s next. Even if we can’t feel His presence at this moment, He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us.  

If you are walking through a dark season right now, and your soul feels empty and dry, don’t give up on God. The Lord is close by quietly protecting you in ways you can’t currently see. He is the Waymaker, and He cares about you deeply. Your Heavenly Father has a purpose for this season, but you have to keep looking up and crying out for His help.  

During the darkest night of your soul, 3 choices will help you survive: Slow down and make room for rest.

On one of the hardest days of my life, I pulled into the driveway of my home and sat in the car for a few minutes trying to not cry. When I got out of the vehicle, I heard a symphony of birds making melody in the big tree sitting in my side yard. I walked into the house, grabbed a lawn chair, and decided to sit outside with the birdies. The gentle breeze covered me with God’s grace, and the blue sky reminded me God had created everything I see. He will help see me through this dark season.  

When you are walking through the valley, God cannot restore your soul if you keep running full speed ahead with all your responsibilities. Give yourself permission to back out of a few things. Learn to say no. Feel free to take a nap. You don’t have to carry the whole world on your shoulders. God’s got that covered for you.  

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” (Matthew 11:28-30, MSG)Surrender control and choose to trust.

As you start each day, this simple act can help you get out of bed with confidence even if you are facing overwhelming problems:  

Kneel down or sit on the side of your bed. Look up to heaven and hold your hands out with the palms open and up in surrender.  

Repeat this prayer out loud: God, this is Your day. Give me courage to lay everything on the altar as a love offering to You. I can’t do this day without Your help. Help me to live like I believe You are in charge. I don’t need to fix things – I just need to be faithful to You. Thank You for providing everything I need to do Your will today. Have Your way in me. Amen.

“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track. Don’t assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil! Your body will glow with health, your very bones will vibrate with life!” (Proverbs 3:5-8, MSG)Seek help and don’t isolate yourself from much needed encouragement.

One of the best choices I made during my dark night of the soul was to join a small group through my church. Each week, I meet with friends who ask me how I am doing, pray for me, and remind me that God loves me and has not forgotten me.

If you are struggling to make it through your day without crying or becoming an emotional mess, consider working with a Christian counselor. It is a financial investment, but one that is life-giving and can help you equip you with tools to manage much of the stress you are facing. (I have my counselor’s name saved on my phone, and am thankful for her!) You can find a good Christian counselor in your area by clicking on your state on this page.  

“The way God designed our bodies is a model for understanding our lives together as a church: every part dependent on every other part, the parts we mention and the parts we don’t, the parts we see and the parts we don’t. If one part hurts, every other part is involved in the hurt, and in the healing. If one part flourishes, every other part enters into the exuberance.” (I Corinthians 12:25-26, MSG)

Need more help to survive the darkest night of your soul? I’ve created a one-page printable with 10 Scriptures to help you remember your God is bigger than bad days. Download a copy and read through these sweet promises every morning to help you get going this week. Grab a copy and spend the next 7 days focusing on how your God is able to help see you through anything. Every morning, you can sit at His feet and strengthen your walk as you remind yourself your God is faithful. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.

When we look to God to show us how to survive the hardest season of our lives, we will never be disappointed. He fills us with an inexplicable hope so that we sing His praises just like the birdies outside my bedroom window. The Lord literally gives us a song in the night and fills us with His joy and peace. All around us people will ask how we can rejoice when life seems so terribly hard, and this will open up the door for us to share our secret: God is singing a song of deliverance over our life. God is the heartbeat of our song. Without God, we would be hopeless.  

Friend, never stop singing. God will use the darkest night of your soul to show everyone how His Light dispels all fear.  

Keep looking to God for help during the darkest night of your soul.

Keep looking to God for help during the darkest night of your soul.

Click To Tweet Let’s Chat: How has God helped you survive the darkest night of your soul?Are you feeling overwhelmed by your commitments and constantly running on empty? CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO HELP YOU develop a plan to Refuel with rest and soul care.

 

ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH? SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY.

Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. As a courtesy, please link back to LyliDunbar.com in your post. Grab and share the #FaithOnFire button to spread the word. Use the hashtag #FaithOnFire to share your post and connect on Twitter. Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up and find #FaithFuel for your soul. Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment. (Note: First time members of the Faith on Fire Link-up Community are agreeing to sign up for my weekly email for writers. You can unsubscribe and continue to link-up if you do not find it helpful and encouraging.)

Come grab your#FaithFuel at the #FaithOnFire #LinkUp. I’m sharing my burning passion with @LyliDunbar and friends.

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The post 3 Ways to Survive During the Darkest Night of Your Soul appeared first on Lyli Dunbar.

Lord, Help Me Know You as My Provider and Follow the Path of Humility

Today, I am delighted to welcome my wise friend, Rachel, to remind us that our healing begins with humility. Join us as we pray together: “Lord, heal our land.”

I grew up on a farm on the east coast of England. It was the “original” farm to table experience — a term for providing fresh food directly onto the table, which is now a popular trend.

Trellises of garden peas, rows of carrots, potatoes, spinach, beet and more filled the vegetable garden. Chickens gave us fresh eggs and also provided meat. As a child, I was given the task of picking the summer fruit — strawberries, raspberries, black and red currants. My uncle, living on the next farm, often gave us freshly caught fish straight from the sea.

Even though I knew my Bible, I did not relate what our garden provided to God being my Provider. My dad did all the gardening work. And of course, my mom would go to the store for whatever else we needed.

Since those days, I have either lived in cities or suburbs and, along with many of you, do not have a close existence with the land. There is little to remind us that the food we eat has been pulled from the ground or picked from a bush.

We also live in a country where we have everything at our fingertips in comparison to other parts of the world: we have ample food, health care, education, entertainment and much more. Although we know what we have is provided by God, we can become, even if not deliberately, independent rather than fully dependent on God. Independence is important to us. In fact, we celebrate independence and the freedom it brings each year.

So, how do we renew our daily dependence on God as our Provider? And why is this important?

Throughout the Old Testament, we see a close connection between the land and God as Provider. If the land did or did not provide food, it was God’s activity. God sent rain to grow the crops but also drought and disease that destroyed them. And so, the people were dependent on God for their food.

What the land provided was related to the people’s obedience and disobedience. If they obeyed God’s commands, then the land would flourish. If they disobeyed God, then failure would follow.

Yet, if God’s people humbled themselves, then God would heal their land.

If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

2 Chronicles 7:14, NIV

Healing begins with humility.

We are no longer living under the Mosaic covenant with blessings or curses directly related to obedience and disobedience. Thankfully, we are living under the new covenant of God’s grace and favor through Jesus Christ.

Humility, however, is a virtue highly praised throughout the Bible and still applies to us today.

Yet, humility is not a quality sought after in our society today. Instead, we are often proud of our achievements and our place in the world, either as individuals or a country. To have power and significance as a nation and to be humble at the same time is difficult to balance.

As Christians, the Bible encourages us to have the same mindset as Jesus who “being found in appearance as a man, He humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” (Philippians 2:8, NIV)

Christ is our example to follow, because God’s blessing is provided to those who possess humility: “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” (James 4:10)

Humility should be something we strive for and practice.

As we pray and for whatever we pray, our prayers should begin with humility. In particular, we should remember God as our Provider of everything — from the food on our table to all things we have in life, including life itself.

Let’s humble ourselves. This week as you pray, ask: “where have I forgotten God is my Provider?” “How can I grow in humility?”

What would not only our lives but also our nation look like if we came humbly before God? We want the many blessings and healing God has for our land. Let’s make these things happen by beginning with humility before God our Provider.

Healing begins with humility.

Healing begins with humility.

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Meet Rachel

Rachel is a British-born writer, author, and speaker whose passion is to help women become comfortable and confident in their conversation with God. Her blog “Praying Naturally” offers an extensive library of free prayer resources to help you deepen and develop your prayer life. Sign up to receive your free guide 4 Simple Steps to Creating a Consistent Prayer Life. Rachel is a wife and mom to three young adults. She cannot live without a mug of English tea. Connect with Rachel on Facebook and Instagram.

 

The Pray Big Sisterhood

Every morning, I wake up and lift my heart to God in prayer.

I praise Him for His glory and goodness.

I surrender my agenda and expectations to His greater kingdom purposes.

I yield my desires to do His will.

And, then I ask for Him to move a mountain.

I cry out to Him for that mountain to crumble.

 

I believe that God is bigger than any obstacle or stronghold.

Yet, my mountain remains — immovable and unyielding.

Do you have a mountain?   I bet you do.

 

Like me, you may be discouraged by the darkness that looms large in your view.

You aren’t alone. If we sat down today in my kitchen and shared our stories, I bet we would see similarities.

Together, we would ask God to move two mountains.

With worshipful hearts, let’s keep crying out to the Lord for those mountains to crumble.

Let’s pray big! Y’all his has been the craziest season ever, but I know that God has a bigger purpose than just our merely surviving the chaos. In hopes of redeeming the time in the weeks ahead, I am inviting you to “Pray Big” as we look to the Lord for even greater things to come.

Let’s ask God to help us have an expectant heart that is not overwhelmed by all the negativity in this world. Let’s pray big and believe God is bigger than the obstacles we are facing. Our Mighty God is going to do more than we can ask, think, or imagine as we pray with hope.   To encourage us on this journey, I have invited my wisest and most Spirit-lead friends to share their heart here in this space for a monthly #PrayBig Guest Post Series. We will start next week and cry out to God together..  

I was to also invite you to join a private “Pray Big” Facebook group for sisters to share our stories and surrender them to our mountain-moving God in prayer. Let’s lift up holy hands together and pray big in community.  

To help you get started, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Join the Wildfire Faith Community and  grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to strengthen your step and breathe fresh wind into your weary spirit.  

 If you are visiting from Rachel’s today, welcome to my little space on the web!Here you will find fuel for a wildfire faith to help youLOVE DEEP: Fervently extend God’s kindness and grace to pesky people.PRAY BIG: Go down fighting on your knees with fire in your bones.HOPE FULL: Stay tethered to a confident anticipation that keeps your heart ablaze.STAND STRONG: Rest courageously on God’s promises with red-hot resolve.

 

SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY. Challenge:Begin each day this week by praying: Lord, I come before You in humility and ask You to heal our land. ARE YOU STUCK IN A SPIRITUAL RUT? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU SPARK A TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR LIFE.CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO DISCOVER STRATEGIES TO REKINDLE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

Have you written something challenging, encouraging, or inspiring lately? Link it up here! For best results, write the title of your post in the name box. As a courtesy, please link back to LyliDunbar.com in your post. Grab and share the #FaithOnFire button to spread the word. Use the hashtag #FaithOnFire to share your post and connect on Twitter. Check back later to see what other GREAT posts have been linked up and find #FaithFuel for your soul. Visit the post immediately before yours and leave an encouraging comment. (Note: First time members of the Faith on Fire Link-up Community are agreeing to sign up for my weekly email for writers. You can unsubscribe and continue to link-up if you do not find it helpful and encouraging.)

Come grab your#FaithFuel at the #FaithOnFire #LinkUp. I’m sharing my burning passion with @LyliDunbar and friends.

Click To Tweet

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

The post Lord, Help Me Know You as My Provider and Follow the Path of Humility appeared first on Lyli Dunbar.