Behold

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2Q-rslQpPE

Behold the Lamb ~ Bayside Worship

And looking at Jesus as He walked, he said, “Behold the Lamb of God!” ~ John 1:36 NKJV

It’s normal for me to wake to songs being sung over me (Zephaniah 3:17). But this time was different. The past two weeks have been a flurry and blur for me and each time I tried to spend time with God, something always stole away my attention. No matter what, I couldn’t focus. Yesterday at 2am, the Lord woke me, again with this song, and called me out of bed.

My heart cried out to God, as I felt so distant from Him. Over and over, this song repeated to me and I began to write it down, as it was the only thing I could hear. Again I cried, my desire to be nestled in my Father’s arms, drinking in His every word for me. And still, the song repeated, each time louder than the time before. I continued writing the words, over and over, until peace replaced the anxiety. Then I opened my Bible and read Jeremiah 50, “’In those days, at that time,’ declares the LORD, ‘the people of Israel and the people of Judah together will go in tears to seek the LORD their God. They will ask the way to Zion and turn their faces toward it… My people have been lost sheep…They wandered over mountain and hill and forgot their own resting place,’” (vv. 4-6). That was exactly how I felt. But crying out to God, He called out to me as He sang, “Behold the Lamb.”

The Greek word for behold means, “Don’t miss this! This is new and unexpected!” Sometimes we can allow life’s distractions to steal the fervor we once felt. But as John the Baptist cried out to those standing nearby, “Don’t miss the Lamb of God! He brings something new; not at all what you were expecting.” Don’t become jaded. Instead, turn and fully look into His beautiful face. And when you do, you will behold the Lamb of God.

©Heather Potts 2016

2,996

“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? ~ Matthew 18:12 NIV

Last night, Brad and I were talking about how Jesus was willing to leave the 99 to seek and save the 1. As we talked, the conversation shifted to personal reflection for Brad and how he never wanted to lose sight of the 99, or in his case, 2,996. If you haven’t heard the story, my husband was working across the street from where President Bush’s plane was in Sarasota, FL on 9/11/01. As 2,996 people were dying, the Lord was still knocking on the door to my husband’s heart. And on that day, scared and hiding in an office, my husband finally responded to the knocking and invited the Savior in, giving his life to Christ.

Even though it’s been 15 years, that story never gets old and always brings me tears of joy! As Brad and I continued to talk about it last night, his prayer and heart’s desire is that he would never lose sight of the 2,996 so that he’d always remember to give as much emphasis to the 1, as Jesus did for him.

How poetic, that we’d be having that conversation just a week before we celebrate the day that our Savior first came into this world and gave us the opportunity to invite Him into our hearts and lives. As we celebrate Christmas, let’s also not lose sight of the 1 who does not yet know Jesus. Let’s be in prayer that we’d continue to shine His light and love this Christmas season, so that those who’ve not yet opened the door will invite the Savior into their hearts and lives.

Father, my prayer this Christmas season is that those who’ve only ever celebrated the Season, will come to know, worship, and celebrate the Reason. Father, let me be a light for the 1. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2016

Look

But the LORD said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The LORD doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” ~ 1 Samuel 16:7 NLT

Due to the struggles we were having getting Savannah ready for school, we started a new routine. Although God has walked us successfully through that season, we’ve continued our new routine. Every morning, we pray an interactive prayer with our girls, asking God to anoint us: touching our heads, we ask Him to anoint our minds; wigging our ears, we ask Him to anoint our ears; and it continues for our eyes, mouths, heart, hands, and feet. The whole prayer is important, but over the past few days, God has shown me the importance of praying for our eyes. We ask God to open our eyes to see people as He sees them and to see into the spiritual realm—to see the Truth—in every situation.

Yesterday morning, I was in a funk and couldn’t shake it, so I opened my journal and began reading through the Truths God has given me over the years, praying that He’d open my eyes to what I needed to know and see. And then I spotted it! In June, 2010, God revealed Himself to me as El Roi, “God of seeing, the God who opens our eyes.”

In 1 Samuel 16, God commanded Samuel to stop mourning Saul’s fall from anointed leadership and to go anoint God’s chosen king. God warned Samuel look—or see—not with human judgement, but through the spiritual eyes of the Lord. The “Lord looks” is the Hebrew word, “ra’ah” meaning to see or behold and is the root word of Roi, the name of God meaning “to see.” My prayer for us today is that God would anoint our eyes, so that we’d see as He sees, in all situations.

©Heather Potts 2016

Expectation

My soul, wait thou only upon God; for my expectation is from him. ~ Psalm 62:5 KJV

Expectation.

This word has been resonating in my ears for about a week. A friend invited me to a conference, a Princess conference to be specific. She invited me because that’s what Holy Spirit said. I had great expectation of what God was going to do as the conference approached and especially throughout it. There was something specific I was hoping God would do. I didn’t know how or where He would show up, but I fully expected to receive from Him.

The thing I love about God is not just where He shows up, but how, because it’s always more: more than we expected, more than we thought possible. Walking into that conference with great expectations of what God would do, I was not disappointed! Awe, amazement, beauty, and excitement are just a few of the ways to describe it. Because He didn’t just give me what I was hoping for in that moment. Instead, He revealed a path toward fulfilling a hidden desire, one that’s been buried in my heart. And though I was willing to move forward without it, He fulfilled it because He can, because He’s God.

Expectation means to bind yourself—your hope, your expectation—to someone or something. When we bind ourselves to men and objects in this world, we will often be disappointed, if not devastated. But when we bind ourselves, through expectation, to God we will never be disappointed because He is the God who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we can ask or imagine.

To what or to whom have you bound yourself?

©Heather Potts 2016

Comforted

I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. ~ John 14:18 KJV

Something woke me early this morning and the enemy was quick to pounce on me with condemnation. In my exhausted state, it took me a moment to recognize what was happening, but when I did I said, “This is condemnation.” Even though the speaking stopped, the images lingered, until God spoke and I heard my Father say, “Come away with Me. Draw away with Me and leave everything else behind.” I saw Him holding me; I was safe and secure in my Father’s arms. He turned me around, still holding me close to His chest. With a single word, He disbanded all the enemy’s lies. He said, “See. Everything is fine.”

When I got out of bed and into my God-chair, I had a strong urge to read my Bible, to find comfort there, but I didn’t know where to begin because the chapter I’ve been studying felt dry. Holy Spirit led me. When I opened up my laptop, one of the Bible study sites I use opened to John 14:18. Holy Spirit showed me that in this scripture God promises to never send me away from Him, deprived and desolate, bereaving a death, like one without a Father. Instead, He will come from one place and into another for me.

Father, thank you that though the enemy attacks and is ready to pounce, especially when I’m tired and vulnerable, You are greater and You come to comfort me and not leave me comfortless! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2016

What If

He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God. That’s why we can be so sure that every detail in our lives of love for God is worked into something good. ~ Romans 8:27-28 MSG

In the middle of church this past Sunday, God spoke to me and asked me to do something—having nothing to do with the sermon. I’ve been running His words between my hands, as though a slinky was shifting back and forth, back and forth, back and forth. If I do this action, it could be this outcome, or that outcome, or another outcome. After running that slinky several times, I finally said, “God I can’t do it. It can’t be me—it will only make things worse than they are now.” But God said, “What if it’s better? What if it’s more?”

That last question, “What if it’s more,” is where He really got me because the possibilities in God are endless…and infinitely better than I could achieve on my own. But first, I must be obedient. I must make that first move…and take that first step. And it’s actually taking that step—doing what He’s asked—that scares me. The “what if’s” are endless… But He reminds me that the outcomes don’t have to be negative, because He works all things together for good. Every time I begin to worry or fear, I hear Him whisper, “What if it’s more?”

If there’s something that God’s calling you to do, push aside the fear and worry and do it anyway. Though the enemy has already cast thousands of possible negative outcomes, Holy Spirit whispers, “What if it’s better? What if it’s more?”

©Heather Potts 2016

You're a Good Mom

Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up. ~ Proverbs 12:25 NLT

For over a year now, I’ve been attending Wednesday Morning Prayer at one of our church campuses. One morning, several months ago, a man I didn’t really know walked up and said, “While I was praying, God spoke to me and said to tell you ‘you’re a good mom.’ When I heard that I said, ‘Oh Lord,’ but He said to tell you. You’re a good mom.” Those words really rocked me at my core. Honestly, I haven’t really felt like a “good mom.” I always felt like I was trying to play “catch-up” with all those “other good moms.” I felt like I was on the bottom of the bell-curve. Somehow, the hurtful words of people and the lies of the enemy were easier to believe…

But my Daddy, He says I find my truth, my strength, and my identity in Him. If I believe that He is a good and perfect Father, then I must also believe that what He says about me is true.

Maybe you’ve been like me and you’ve believed the lie that you’re not good enough. Just as a man at a prayer meeting told me, you need to know: You’re a good mom. I can say that because we are made in our Father’s likeness and image and He promises, “I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you,” (Isaiah 46:4 NLT). Though we’re often given more than we can handle in our humanness, God doesn’t give us more than His strength in us can carry…because He’s carrying us.

If someone you know—or even you—has been struggling to believe the truth, remind them that their identity is found not in a lie or some hurtful words, but in their good and perfect Daddy who is madly in love with them.

©Heather Potts 2016

Nevertheless

“Nevertheless, I will bring health and healing to it; I will heal my people and will let them enjoy abundant peace and security.” ~ Jeremiah 33:6 NIV

Yesterday, I was talking with a friend about the battles and struggles in our lives, the attacks that keep relentlessly and vengefully coming against us. She said in her life, when the attacks are hardest, she keeps coming back to, “But God.” But God who is rich in mercy. But God who gives the increase. But God. I said for me it’s, “Nevertheless.” Nevertheless, He will bring health and healing to it. Nevertheless.

You’re battling illnesses and the doctors report no hope; nevertheless, God will bring health and healing to it. You’re at odds with your kids and/or spouse and you feel defeated; nevertheless, God will bring health and healing to it. You’re facing insurmountable odds in your finances and debt; nevertheless, God will bring health and healing to it.

No matter what you’re facing, no matter how it looks, humble yourself, come before your Father and hear Him say, “Nevertheless.”

©Heather Potts 2016

Thinner

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened ~ Ephesians 1:17-18 NIV

What’s the difference between obsessed and passionate? Recently, we’ve been battling a lot of spiritual warfare—somethings better disguised though battled before and others new to us. The difference between obsessed and passionate is the driving force behind it.

“Thinner” is what I need to make my waffle batter in order to make cones instead of just waffles. Because the answer came to me in a pre-6am moment, I had to check myself: was Holy Spirit helping me or was it something else? A few weeks ago, I became obsessed—and I mean literally—with our budget. The numbers, details, and nuances consumed my thoughts all afternoon, overnight, and into the next morning. But Holy Spirit finally opened my eyes to see that a spirit of fear and anxiety was driving a need for control, resulting in obsession. I rebuked both the fear and anxiety and reminded them and myself that God had already given me His Spirits of Power, Love, and a Sound and Disciplined Mind. Finally, the anxiety was replaced with peace.

If something has been consuming your thoughts, check the driving force behind it. Has God opened your eyes to something that He wants you to know better and uncover the truth behind? Or is the enemy trying to put his spirits upon you, keeping you spinning in circles? Ask God for a Spirit of wisdom and revelation and to open the eyes of your heart and the answer will be revealed.

©Heather Potts 2016

He is Not a Man

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ~ Ephesians 6:10-11 NIV

Recently, our family has endured many attacks. They’re like little dogs nipping at your ankles, causing your ankles to bleed overtime. The physical pain creates a wound in your mind and heart, leading you to want to avoid those dogs at all costs. Yesterday, when the enemy was reminding me of recent “dog bites,” Holy Spirit whispered, “He is not a man.” In other words, the Attacker is not a person or group of people, but Satan himself.  Daniel 10:1-14 explains that we’re in spiritual warfare.

How do you win spiritual warfare while enduring a physical affront? Sing it • Silence it • See it • Say it.

Sing it: Worship. Throughout the Bible, the trumpeters or worship leaders were out front, rallying the troops, headed for war. Keeping God’s praise on your lips opens your heart to knowing His.

Silence it: Hold your tongue. Proverbs 18:21 says the tongue has the power of life and death. Pray that your words would be always with grace, seasoned with salt, and spoken only as God directs.

See it: Pray for enlightened eyes. We don’t often see the truth or know the best way to deal with our physical needs in a spiritual battle. But Holy Spirit can give us a Spirit of wisdom and discernment (enlightened eyes), helping us know what we need to do physically—like setting up healthy boundaries or changing a habit—while also directing us through this spiritual battlefield.

Say it: Speak God’s Word. Ephesians 6:10-20 tells us to dress in the full armor of God, taking up the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, enabling us to defeat the enemy and advance God’s Kingdom.

Whatever you’re facing today, remember that people are not your enemy—Satan is—but Jesus has given us the victory! That is a reason to celebrate, even in the midst of battle.

©Heather Potts 2016

A Gathering of Flowers, part 3

No, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to countless thousands of angels in a joyful gathering. ~ Hebrews 12:22 NLT

Most people don’t know that when I was in high school I wrote and tried to publish two Science-Fiction novels. The rejection letters all said the same thing: “Not original enough.” It’d been done before; they didn’t need me to do it again. That rejection hurt and I never tried my hand at Sci-Fi again. It was a good decade before I’d even post anything on a blog. The devil thought he’d beaten me; he thought he had the victory. The devil was wrong!

Over the course of the last 10-15 years, God has been strategically surrounding me with people who’ve been encouraging me in my writing. Though I’ve allowed God to lead me to write more transparently, I often battle the fear that says, “The world has enough writers; why do they need you?” But God’s Word reminds me, “Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame,” (Isaiah 50:7 NIV).

A friend recently said she believed God was calling all His writers; no, there aren’t enough in the world. I believe that extends to all artists. How often does a single picture, song, poem, book, devotional, etc. move you? The handful of artists that are seen today can’t expose the whole world to what God wants to share with them. He needs YOU! In order to make the sweet aroma of Christ stronger, God needs ALL His flowers. A Gathering of Flowers is a collection of creativity, beauty, and fragrance gathered together for one purpose: to share God with the world. If God has placed a dance, poem, book, drawing, speech, or song in your heart, won’t you let Him use it to reach His people?

©Heather Potts 2016

A Gathering of Flowers Part 2

“In that coming day,” says the LORD, “I will gather together those who are lame, those who have been exiles, and those whom I have filled with grief. Those who are weak will survive as a remnant; those who were exiles will become a strong nation. Then I, the LORD, will rule from Jerusalem as their king forever.” ~ Micah 4:6-7 NLT

One day, our friend stopped by and as soon as he got out of his car, he ran over to our ditch and said, “Do you know what this is?” Since we are not plant people, we had no clue what he was seeing—though we wanted to know what could possibly be so exciting in our ditch. “It’s Milkweed!” he exclaimed. Milkweed is where Monarch Butterflies lay their eggs. Our friend dug the Milkweed from the ditch and replanted it in our butterfly garden.

Sometimes we find ourselves in the ditches of life—through our choices or through circumstances beyond our control—and God is waiting to see what we’ll do. We each have the choice to give up and die or thrive and encourage others to do the same. God is watching the fields, valleys, and ditches. He’s looking for those whose circumstances are bleak, but don’t allow it to overtake them. Instead, they find the nutrients and richness of their surroundings and utilize them in order to stand firm when others wilt and die. God then pulls them out and replants them into larger gardens where they can continue to thrive, making the whole garden stronger, healthier, and more beautiful.

If you’ve been feeling a lot like that Milkweed, something many overlook and disregard, take heart! Father God sees you as precious and He is gathering you in order to replant you so you’ll grow stronger and shine brilliantly.

©Heather Potts 2016

A Gathering of Flowers

I will be found by you, says the LORD, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you, says the LORD, and I will bring you to the place from which I cause you to be carried away captive. ~ Jeremiah 29:14 NKJV

I love playing outside with my girls because they are always bringing me gifts: an assortment of leaves (yanked from a bush) and wildflowers (plucked from a ditch). They grab the things which catch their eye, rarely keeping these beauties for themselves. Instead, they grab as many as their hands will hold and bring them to me. They are so proud of their findings, thinking they have found the best the world has to offer.

That’s how God sees us—as His treasures, His flowers. He is gathering His flowers together, His sons, His daughters. He doesn’t gather as a florist would—picking only the pristine and those that would gain a sale, discarding the dried up and wilting flowers. No, Father God reaches—just as a child—and selects the wild flowers from the ditches, the clovers from the fields, the leaves on the ground, and even the roses on the bush. He gathers them all together, arranging them to bring about the sweetest, harmonizing fragrance. Deeply He breathes in the rich aroma. He exhales and says, “Perfect.”

If you’ve been feeling worn out, dried up, wilted, or useless, then come to the feet of Jesus. Let Him gather you to Himself, showering you in His love, reviving and refreshing you. Only when you are revived and refreshed in God’s presence will you release that sweet aroma, which is pleasing to Him.

©Heather Potts 2016

Rollercoasters

I can never escape from your Spirit!
I can never get away from your presence!

If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans,

even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.

~ Psalm 139:7, 9-10 NLT

You know those people who, while riding rollercoasters, throw their hands up, laugh, and seem to really be enjoying the ride? I’m not that person. But somehow, I got talked into riding the Cheetah at Busch Gardens. A friend convinced me that this ride didn’t feel at all like a rollercoaster and I’d like it. The ride was everything I expected… It was smooth, fast, and SCARY! I screamed and cried the WHOLE ride, and continued to cry and shake when it was over.

Recently, I was talking with a friend and likened my life to that of a rollercoaster: fast, out of my control, and filled with lots of turns and drops. I wanted life to feel more like a smooth cruise down a lazy river. But that’s not reality. And truly, we’re much stronger now than we’ve ever been.

So why the fear? The sudden curves tend to catch me off guard. But through my dependence upon and closeness with Christ, I’m better able to be like the other rollercoaster riders: throwing my hands in the air, relinquishing my control, and laughing, remembering that through Christ we have the victory and He will bring us through this, too.

If, like me, you’ve been looking for a way off the rollercoaster of your life, then it’s time we change our perspective. Christ came so we could have life to the fullest, which include victory and laughter. I’ve discovered the closer I draw to Christ, I’m purposefully throwing my hands up in joy and praise, laughing as I realize I was never in control of anything.

©Heather Potts 2016

Obedience

‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: “…With my great power and outstretched arm I made the earth and its people and the animals that are on it, and I give it to anyone I please. Now I will give all your countries into the hands of my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon” ~ Jeremiah 27:4-6 NIV

In Jeremiah 27, God tells the Israelites that they are going to serve Nebuchadnezzar, his people, and his land. God said He would destroy any—the people and their land—who did not serve as God commanded. At its core, God was saying to trust Him and walk in the way He commands. God is laying a test before His people: will you trust and follow only in the ways that feel good and right? Or will you commit yourself fully into My hands and follow Me regardless of how it looks, feels, or seems to you?

Historians regard King Nebuchadnezzar as brutal, powerful, and ambitious. Sitting in the comfort of your home, it could be easy to miss this important message, but please hear it: God doesn’t always ask us to do things that make sense and are comfortable, but He expects us to be obedient, regardless.

What has God called you to do that doesn’t make sense, but you feel a peace about following where and how He leads? Or what has God asked you to do that is uncomfortable and possibly a little painful, but you know that He’s using it for your growth and His glory?

Today, pray this prayer and see where He takes you: “Lord, though the road doesn’t always look the way I think it should, I will follow You.”

©Heather Potts 2016

Count the Cost

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it ~ Luke 14:28 NKJV

I dislike shoe shopping.

I have small feet and am very picky about how my shoes look and feel. But since I’ve taken up running, having properly fitting running shoes is a must. But I put it off… Until I saw that I had literally worn away the tread on my shoes. So I started shoe shopping, with no luck. Praise God my genius husband told me to research the best shoe for my strike and foot. I discovered that I strike on the ball (vs. heel) of my foot, likely from years of dancing. And my feet roll outward (vs. inward) as I step. There were 3 shoes that were best for me. I felt more confident knowing both the type and cost. And after the next shopping excursion, I came home with running shoes specifically designed for me.

The Bible says that before beginning anything new, it’s best to “count the cost,” determining what you’ll pay in money, time, and energy. Saying “yes” to something means saying “no” to something else. As you begin, ask “What is the cost, what is the benefit, and does the benefit outweigh the cost?” If the benefit doesn’t outweigh the cost, perhaps now isn’t the proper time to begin or take on this particular project. The cost in getting new shoes was high. But the benefit was a savings from one or more injuries, possibly medical expenses, fun time missed with my family, and lost wages if Brad had to miss work to care for me. In the end, the benefit far outweighed the cost of getting proper shoes.

What endeavors are you thinking of undertaking? What desires are you wanting to fulfill? Weigh the cost against the benefit and then seek godly counsel—especially God’s first and foremost. When you do, you’ll get the answer for both direction and timing.

©Heather Potts 2016

Let's Get Real

“The heart is hopelessly dark and deceitful,
    a puzzle that no one can figure out.
But I, God, search the heart
    and examine the mind.
I get to the heart of the human.
    I get to the root of things.
I treat them as they really are,
    not as they pretend to be.”

~ Jeremiah 17:9-10 MSG

The key to managing your emotions is to acknowledge your real emotions ~ Julia Mateer, Life-Giving Leadership, A Toolbox for Leading Women

I like this quote by Julia Mateer, because we sometimes get so caught up in what we should or shouldn’t be doing or feeling regarding others that we never deal with our real emotions. A couple of months ago I was sharing some frustrations with a friend and mentor and said, “I’m trying to give grace and not make waves…” And that’s where she stopped me and said, “But it bothers you a lot when it happens.” When I said yes, she said, “Then say that. Say, ‘It bothers me’ or ‘My feelings are hurt when…’” She said if I never confessed and dealt with my real feelings, I wasn’t doing myself or the other person any favors.

God’s been dealing with me a lot this year, beginning very boldly on January 1, by telling me this would be a year of digging out any impurities in my heart. He went on to say that in order for me to receive the blessings and favor He would rain down, my heart had to be ready. What I’ve learned is that things that I thought were OK, even synonymous with being a redhead, are not any part of God’s design for me. Even though it’s been hard to hear at times, the one thing I can depend upon with God is that He’ll be “real” with me. And He wants me to be “real” with Him.

If you’ve been hurt by someone, you aren’t offering grace by side-stepping the issue.  Grace isn’t ignoring what happened; it’s not burying it under the rug or stuffing hurt feelings. Grace, mercy, love, and forgiveness enable you to say, “Those actions hurt me. But just as God has forgiven me, I choose to forgive you, relinquishing my right to punish you.” The pain might not go away overnight, and that’s ok. The first step toward freedom is acknowledging your real emotions and asking God to guide you the rest of the way.

©Heather Potts 2016

Blow Out "I Can't"

The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.

~ Zephaniah 3:17 NKJV

The other day, I woke up with the song “I Need You More” in my head. It wasn’t until my almost 4-year-old yelled from her bedroom, “Mommy, I peed on my bed and got poopy on the door,” that I heard the song in context. Savannah is a very strong-willed child but she has her very sweet moments of complete obedience for us, as well as others. Throughout the day, we had times of calm and fun, but also times of struggle and testing.

That night, I went running before dinner. During my run, God said, “It’s time to blow-out the ‘I-cants’. It’s time to take on ‘I can’ as your crown of victory.” The things I can’t do have been mounting: I can’t get her to listen to me. I can’t get her potty-trained. I can’t, I can’t, I can’t… And truly, I can’t make her do anything. But I can sit her in my lap, giving her my full attention, and teach her God’s Word. I can encourage her to deposit His Word in her heart. I can pray that God’s Word will minister to her, grooming her for greatness. I can believe what scripture says, “As we teach our children about Father God and His Word, it will stimulate, penetrate, teach and be impressed diligently upon their hearts and minds. Our girls will put their confidence in God and not forget His words, but keep His commands…they won’t be stubborn nor will they be a generation whose hearts are not loyal or faithful to God. They will be an example and set a pattern for the believers in speech, conduct, love, faith and moral purity,” (Deuteronomy 6:7, Psalm 78:6-8, 1 Timothy 4:12).

Running, opened me up to my Father, allowing Him to quiet me with His love. If you’re struggling with what you can't in your life, it’s time to blow them out and put on your crown of victory, remembering we can through Christ!

©Heather Potts 2016

Sparkle

And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness ~ Exodus 34:6 NIV

After perusing her options, Kelly selected the perfect outfit: a simple skirt and peach blouse.  She complemented the outfit with sandals and her favorite necklace.  After braiding her hair, she came out of her room.  When her mother saw her, she asked Kelly suspiciously, “Where are you off to?”  “Church,” Kelly smiled.  When she walked through the familiar doors of her church, she saw all her friends waiting for her.  They were dressed in their usual casual attire.  A few of them poked at her and asked if she had a hot date.  Kelly only smiled and thought to herself, “Yes and His name is Jesus.”

The root word for abounding means to take care, to value highly and to nourish, so that it will grow and become great.  Because of the Father’s great love for us—the love that He pours on us, that He uses to wash away the falsehoods we’ve been taught about love, that He bathes us in covering us with His deep, passionate, never-ending and never-failing love—we can begin to feel loved, feel free, feel beautiful, and then desire to express those feelings outwardly.

And like Kelly, we will act differently, stand out from the crowd a bit, and desire to show our appreciation and love to Jesus.  When you’re encapsulated by the love of Jesus, you begin to sparkle. On this Mother’s Day, regardless of your relationship with your mother, remember your Father in heaven abounds in love for you and He places high value upon you!

©Heather Potts 2016

His Deep-Seated Love

The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful. ~ James 5:11 AMP

After Brad’s heart surgery, my friend Nichole would come up to the hospital.  Everybody else came to see Brad.  She came just to check on me.  Since they kept the hospital just above freezing, we would sit outside in the October heat, just to thaw.  Once outside, I would ramble and she would listen.  She and I have just as many things in common as not.  And over the years, it’s proven to be the perfect combination that cements our friendship.

Mercy and compassion cause one to be inclined toward another in sympathy, but also compels action.  Instead of Nichole saying, “I feel badly for them,” her compassion toward us caused her to come to the hospital and sit quietly with me until I felt better, or at least until I thawed.  And that’s how the Lord works in the hearts of His people.  He lays His deep-seated love for us in the hearts of others to compel them to call, show up, make a meal, or any number of things just to remind us how much He loves us and to show us that we are not alone.

The compassion that God has for us is part of His unconditional love.  It won’t go away, because He’ll never stop pursuing us.  He loves us too much.

Thank you, Father, that You never stop pursuing us.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2016

No Strings Attached

The Lord is gracious and full of compassion, slow to anger and abounding in mercy and loving-kindness. ~ Psalm 145:8 AMP

Conditional, covered-in-strings love reminds me of the “Bye Bye Bye” music video by *NSYNC.  Throughout, a girl controls their every move, as if they are marionette puppets, attached to her by strings.  We laugh at the overture, but for too many, it’s reality. But why do they expose themselves to that kind of reality, where love is tied to a string that the puppeteer can yank at any time?  Most often, it’s because the recipient doesn’t think they are worthy of unconditional love.

But that’s not what God wants for His kids.  He sacrificed so much so that we could know and experience just how much He loves us.  When you come face to face with God’s loving-kindness and then compare it to the ball of intertwined yarn that’s been the reality of the love you’ve been shown, it’s a stark, harsh reality.  It’s heartbreakingly devastating.  But God says you are worthy of being loved.  He loves you with an unfailing, never-ending, no-strings-attached kind of love.  God chose you and said you are worthy.

If you’ve only ever known love tied on with strings, it’s time to break free and run into Father’s embrace.  He longs to open your eyes to a new kind of love, one that won’t go away and will never end, because it’s attached by Blood and not by strings.

 ©Heather Potts 2016

Dream Job

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. ~ Psalm 127:3 NLT

The other day I was struggling. Both girls were having constant meltdowns all day. I remember how drained I felt at the end of the day. And the next morning, as I was praying over the day, God reminded me not to go into the day with frustration and low expectations, but to remember that I was living someone’s dream job: mine.

When I became pregnant with Savannah, Brad and I talked about our plans, and how I would be the one staying home and everything would be perfect. Well, not only was it not perfect, it wasn’t how we imagined. For moral and ethical reasons, Brad had left his job and was without work when Savannah was born, so he stayed home and I remained working. It was awful! We were both frustrated and wanted what the other had. I mortified to hear that instead of holding our precious love every second of every day, he’d found a way to prop up her bottle so she could feed herself. Instead of being at home with my little love, I was stuck at work with a bunch of adults who acted like children, only worsening how I felt. God had a lot of work to do in both of our hearts—and praise God, He did! When Elizabeth was born, I was able to come home because Brad had a good job. And honestly, it wasn’t too long before I was trying to figure out how to prop up Elizabeth’s bottle so I could eat or go to the bathroom. I suddenly realized that my husband was a genius!

We’re so funny. We look at people—what they have and what we want—and think, “My life would be better if…” Sometimes God opens those doors and allows us our hearts’ desires. But when the going gets tough, it’s easy to slip into a “My life would be better if” mentality. That’s when we need to buckle down, pray for grace for the moment, thank Him for the blessing and that He’s allowed us to walk through this door.

©Heather Potts 2016

Was It a Bad Day?

I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders. I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I’m singing your song, High God. ~ Psalm 9:1-2 MSG

Maybe your day went something like this: Your 20-minute drive to the doctor took 100 minutes because traffic was at a dead-stop on the interstate. And after leaving the office, you had to go to the bathroom really badly, so you stopped into a fast-food restaurant across the street (because you were too shy/embarrassed to ask to use the bathroom at your doctor’s office). But when you were ready to leave, you discovered the lock on your stall door was jammed. You perused your options: call for help, try to scale the stall wall, or drag yourself out underneath the door and pray you fit. You chose option #3, praying the whole time that no one would come in—not because you’d be embarrassed to be caught, but because the door would likely smash into your head upon their entry. You safely escape that episode, drive to your friend’s to pick-up your kids to take them home for nap time. Your day looks brighter now…until your almost 4-year-old gushes pee onto the floor in front of the toy bin. But she did it just for you because she didn’t want to have an accident on your new couch…

Drs. Cloud and Townsend define a boundary as a way of defining ownership of feelings, attitudes, and behaviors, because when we understand who owns what, we know who must take responsibility for it. I am responsible for my feelings, attitudes, and behaviors. Others can’t make me feel frustrated or happy. I am responsible to choose how I will respond to circumstances. That means, you can choose to laugh off the entire day—maybe even write about it as a way to encourage others—or sit down and cry, focusing only on the negative events. Which will you choose?

©Heather Potts 2016

Security

Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God, turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,” ignore what the world worships ~ Psalm 40:4 MSG

People do the craziest things in their cars: shave, brush their teeth, even change clothes. Everyone does it, we climb inside a routine that makes us feel secure and invisible to others, when in reality, we are very exposed.

From July 2015 until last month, Brad was looking for work, the kind with set hours and set pay. Last October, Brad thought he’d found it. But that wasn’t God’s end-game and He closed the door. Though hurt and frustrated, Brad kept applying for the job we were certain we wanted: the safe kind, with set pay. After several more interviews and just as many closed doors, we were frustrated and confused. We begged God to lead us. In that time, He never failed to care for us, but it wasn’t how we thought it was supposed to look.

God did open one door. Two of Brad’s friends encouraged him to start his own business, which he did, and began doing small projects. At the beginning of this year, one of Brad’s friends submitted a bid for a project, an undertaking which was far beyond what he could manage on his own. He told Brad that if won the bid he would need to hire Brad to coordinate it for him. Was this really the direction God was sending us? Through a series of more closed doors with this being the only open door, God confirmed this was the direction He was leading us.

I recently told a friend that we never would have gone this route had the events of last year never occurred. It doesn’t offer any security; it doesn’t come with guaranteed work or guaranteed pay… But nothing is truly secure unless directed by and held in the hands of God. If you’re walking a path and the way seems unsure, submit yourself fully into God’s hands, for His is the only way that is truly secure.

©Heather Potts 2016

What It Needs

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. ~ James 1:5 NLT

When I started running, I quickly learned what my body needed. Some things were obvious, like stretching and hydrating, but not all things. I quickly learned that eating before running would make me sick. Maybe you’ve always been the athletic type and the things I learned through trial and error are obvious to you. Whether it’s in exercising or other areas, we won’t always have all the answers; we all need wisdom at some point.

1 Thessalonians 5 has some great wisdom:

Get along among yourselves, each of you doing your part…Gently encourage the stragglers, and reach out for the exhausted, pulling them to their feet. Be patient with each person, attentive to individual needs…Look for the best in each other, and always do your best to bring it out. Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens…Don’t suppress the Spirit, and don’t stifle those who have a word from the Master. On the other hand, don’t be gullible. Check out everything, and keep only what’s good. Throw out anything tainted with evil, (vv. 13-22, MSG).

How do we exercise the wisdom given? How can you be cheerful when your kids have poopy-painted their bedroom walls, toys, and bed? How do you thank God no matter what? This is where instruction and relationship meet. Just as watching how my body responded to my actions guided me through adjusting my habits, if we pay close attention to God’s leading, He will teach us how to follow His instructions. This isn’t a pass/fail test; it’s a relationship. His desire is for our success. If there’s something you need but can’t figure it out, ask God. He promises to give you the wisdom you need. So what do you need?

©Heather Potts 2016

Seedlings

“Listen! A farmer went out to plant some seed. As he scattered it across his field, some…seeds fell on fertile soil, and they sprouted…” ~ Mark 4:3, 8 NLT

Seedlings (in essence) are the sprouts that poke out of the ground, the product of planted seeds. A light bulb moment feels a lot like seedlings, the product of thoughts that have been planted over time which finally come together to illuminate the light bulb. But a light bulb is only enough light to brighten up a small area, it’s not enough to help you see the whole picture. And that’s where I feel like I’m at right now: God’s been planting all these little seeds—seeds of knowledge, wisdom, and truth—and they’ve been in the fertile soil long enough that they’ve planted roots and have begun the ascent toward the light. There’s no fruit on them yet. They certainly aren’t full-grown, but the idea has begun to sprout, the light has been turned on, and life is growing.

“When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty,” (Jeremiah 15:16 NIV). For years, God’s been planting kernels of knowledge from His Word, anointed speakers, book studies, etc. and they keep bringing me back to the idea of bearing the Lord’s Name, being His bride, and being His daughter. I had a girl ask me a couple weeks ago why my last name was Potts. I told her it was because when I got married, I took on my husband’s name.  She then asked what the name meant. I said I don’t know…maybe it means, “Good cook.”

As the King’s daughter and the bride of Christ, I bear the Lord’s Holy Name. Shouldn’t I know what it means? Shouldn’t I know and walk in the power and authority that His Name carries with it? Spend some time with God, asking Him to show and teach you what it means to bear His Name.

©Heather Potts 2016

Nothing Wasted

God doesn’t waste your pain. ~ Tim Tebow

Ephesians 2:10 says we’ve been called for God’s good works and we are His poem. As a writer, I love that last part. But the enemy comes and spews his lies over me, saying, “Who are you?! They will see right through you, will see that you’re nothing! You’re not a Beth Moore or a Christine Caine. Who are you to tell your story?”

Jeremiah 15:19 has always resonated with me, “if you extract the precious from the worthless, You will become My spokesman.” In Romans 8:28, we’re assured that God causes all things to work together for our good. Not everything in our lives will be good—I have seen my share of pain and deep sorrows—but God is calling us to something greater. First, we must separate out the precious things from the worthless. In one hand we hold the lessons, blessings, times of growth, times of victory, times of walking closer with God and of being completely humble before Him. And in the other hand is everything else—this is the stuff we are to discard, never considering again. We are to give over to God the precious things and allow Him to finish working us into His masterpiece.

When the enemy lays out before me all the pain, hurt, suffering, failure, trials, mistakes, and heartbreaks and demands I give an explanation of who I think I am to dare share my story, it’s my turn to speak up:  I was created to be God’s love story, His poem. I choose to separate the precious from the worthless, casting off the spirit of fear and walking in the Spirit of life, power, love, and self-control, recognizing and fully receiving the truth that I have been adopted as His precious daughter. It’s true I’m not the women and authors I look up to, and that’s ok. I am a daughter of the King, which makes me a princess. I am God’s Princess! I am valued, treasured, loved, and precious in His sight. I don’t know who the world will say that I am and I refuse to listen to what the enemy says about me. Because my God, my Abba Father, says that I am His!

©Heather Potts 2016

Seeds of Victory

Strength! Courage! Don’t be timid; don’t get discouraged. ~ Joshua 1:1-9 MSG

Through Jesus, God has given us victory. We must take the seeds of victory He’s already planted and, following the instructions in His Word, help them grow into beautiful fruit-bearing plants. Joshua 1:1-9 gives us some of those keys.

All your life, no one will be able to hold out against you. ~ Joshua 1:5 MSG

Jesus said that because we are called by His Name, people will come against us (Matthew 5:11), but He also says that He has overcome the world, so we need not fear, (John 16:33).

I’ll be with you. I won’t give up on you; I won’t leave you. ~ Joshua 1:5 MSG

Over and over, God promises to never leave us, never abandon us, never forsake us. He says He is with us and He is for us, (Romans 8:31). On our good days and rough days, in our celebrations and our set-backs, He’ll be there. We need to reject the lies of the enemy that we will ever be abandoned or alone! Our Father God promises to never leave us. He is for us and He loves us!

Don’t get off track…get to where you’re going. And don’t for a minute let this Book of The Revelation be out of mind. Ponder and meditate on it day and night, making sure you practice everything written in it. ~ Joshua 1:7-8 MSG

The enemy fights hard to steal the victory. But we have been given both power and authority to overcome the enemy, (Luke 9:1). Throughout His Word, God gives us instructions to live by and promises to stand upon so that we are able to live victoriously!

God, your God, is with you every step you take. ~ Joshua 1:9 MSG

“You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me,” (Psalm 139:5 NIV). God goes with us, protects us, and guides us. From the highest height to the deepest valley and every place in between, He will be there if you are there, because He loves you!

©Heather Potts 2016

Preparing the Land

Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another—showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God’s way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us. ~ 2 Timothy 3:16-17 MSG

I like words… I like to look them up and see all that they mean. I enjoy creating pictures using words. I like to paint on the canvas of people’s minds using a collection of strategically placed words.  I desire to share with others what I see when Father God speaks to me.

I love to read my Bible and have Holy Spirit shine a light under a certain passage as He says, “Write this one down and hear what I have to say.” And down it goes into my journal. Sometimes the words are a refreshing spring to my soul, pouring on just what I need in a moment of desperation and need. But sometimes the words taste bitter and feel harsh. And when I read them I think, “Why this word, God? Why not some fun promise or refreshing psalm?” Oftentimes, in the moment He doesn’t tell me those answers. He just makes a deposit, a little seedling in the dirt.

“When your words came I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, O Lord God Almighty,” (Jeremiah 15:16 NIV). The first time I read this verse, I thought, “Of course, because Your words bring me life,” but I only thought of “fun” passages. God brings life by having us cultivate all untilled land. We do that through examination and allowing His Word to divide the places of our hearts that need His light. If I am to be a student of the Word, I can’t just consume what I deem as “good” words. I must also ponder and chew on the “difficult” passages, in order that He might break off of me any waste material. When I’m not weighted down by waste, I’m free to shine His light in dark places.

©Heather Potts 2016

Uniquely Called

God doesn’t want us to be shy with his gifts, but bold and loving and sensible. ~ 2 Timothy 1:7 MSG

If you hadn’t figured it out by now, I love to write! I’ve been writing for as long as I can remember. My mom says I’ve been telling stories about Jesus since I could talk. I’m honored by and have thoroughly enjoyed the writing projects that God has led me to along the way. I recently heard two different perspectives on writers. The first said, “Aren’t there enough writers? Why do we need more?” And the second said, “God is raising up a whole new generation of writers. We need more writers.” I absolutely love that second quote, and not just because I am a writer, but because it totally refutes the enemy’s lies. So many times he has said, “Why do they need you? It’s already been written, already been spun, already been done.” But my God whispers to me and say, “But they need you to tell your story. I’ve called you for a specific and different purpose than others.” Those people God called me to reach might not hear what He has to say if I don’t fulfill my calling and my dream.

Jeremiah 15:16 says, “I have been called by Your Name.” We love, follow, and serve a creative God. He is so creative that He has uniquely designed and given each of us a calling for a specific purpose. Can you imagine?! If you put a handful of writers in the room who all write in similar styles, they will still have been called to uniquely touch different people in different ways and for different purposes because they have individually experienced life.

God has called and designed you for a specific purpose. Don’t let the enemy stop you from reaching those who need to hear what God has called you to say!

©Heather Potts 2016

He Understands

LORD, you understand; remember me and care for me. ~ Jeremiah 15:15 NIV

When I read today’s verse, Holy Spirit whispered, “Jesus does understand.” Like many other families, we’ve been under enemy fire. Sometimes the attacks come in little things like when Savannah’s strong-willed streak appears and she pees in front of the toilet instead of in it. But sometimes it’s the bigger things like when we have exactly enough diapers to get Elizabeth through church and then we will be completely out of diapers and without money to buy more. Or when there’s more month than there is food in the house. And just to add insult to injury, the enemy comes and steals sleep night after night after night.

But every time I come into my Daddy’s presence and cry, “I am so tired! I need Your help to get me through today,” that’s when Jesus says, “I know. I’ve been there.” Until this season, I’ve never understood 2 Corinthians 12:10, “For when I am weak then I am strong,” (NIV). When I humble my heart, enter His presence, and ask for His help, He binds His strength and power with my faith and I am able to persevere by His power alone. It’s been through those times that I become strong and stronger still. Persevere is the Greek word hypomonē which is “the characteristic of a man who is unswerved from his deliberate purpose and his loyalty to faith…even by the greatest trials and sufferings,” (blueletterbible.org).

It’s impossible to do anything by our own strength and power. But when we invite God’s power to be infused with our own, there is nothing God can’t or won’t do through us.

©Heather Potts 2016

Jesus Will

The Lord said, “Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose” ~ Jeremiah 15:11 NIV

I love Savannah’s heart, passion, and trust. She’s been making a lot of “Jesus will” declarations lately.  She can’t always remember the names of her favorite shows or songs, so she makes up her own names and then it’s up to us to decipher. For example, “Pluto” is “The Goofy Movie” and the “Bear Show” is “Fun and Fancy Free.” She also calls “Zacchaeus” the “Monkey Song.” If you aren’t familiar with the song, Zacchaeus is short and climbs up a tree to see Jesus, but Jesus tells him to come down because He’s going to Zacchaeus’ house today. My assumption is that Zacchaeus climbed a tree like a monkey and that’s why she calls it the Monkey Song. One night, Savannah said, “The monkey will bite me…but Jesus will protect me.”  Then a few days later, a toy of hers broke and we weren’t able to fix it. But Savannah wasn’t worried. She looked at me quite certain and said, “Jesus will fix it.”

“The LORD said, ‘Surely I will deliver you for a good purpose; surely I will make your enemies plead with you in times of disaster and times of distress,’” (Jeremiah 15:11 NIV). As I was studying this scripture, I dug into the commentaries and in essence God said, When the way looks threatening and you feel danger closing in on you, trust in Me.

My 3-year-old trusts that Jesus will. What do you need from Jesus today? A job? Healing? Protection? Financial provision? Restoration in relationships? Wisdom and discernment? “Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,” (Psalm 103:2 NIV). Whatever you need in your life today, be as bold as a 3-year-old and declare over it, “Jesus will!”

©Heather Potts 2016

Give It Everything

Give it everything you have, heart and soul. ~ Joshua 1:7 MSG

Several months ago, I wrote a devotional called “More.” In essence, it’s the constant battle between opposing forces. For example, when Peter stepped out of the boat to move toward Jesus, there were more opportunities for him to drown, but there was also the possibility that he’d walk on water. When David approached the battle line to fight Goliath, there were more opportunities for him to be slaughtered and the Israelites to become slaves, but there was also the possibility that he’d kill the giant.

The truth is, we won’t know the possibility of success until we try and give it everything. When I ran my 5K in December, I didn’t push myself due to a myriad of reasons, and I ran my slowest pace ever. While it was still fun, I was disheartened by my time. A couple weeks ago, Holy Spirit said to give it everything, to push myself and hold nothing back. I walked a 5K much faster than I ran it back in December. 

We won’t know what God can do in and through us until we give Him everything, holding nothing back.

Fear will always be present, because the enemy will always be present. The question is: what will you do with the fear? Will you allow it to paralyze you, completely stopping you from doing the very thing you long to do? Will you allow it to amputate you, decreasing your impact by choosing a “safer” route? Will you allow it to deter you, steering you away from your promised land for the next 40 years? Or will you use it to propel you, catapulting you to the very place and in front of the very people that God wants you to impact for His glory?

How much will you give God?

©Heather Potts 2016

Yet Examplify

We’re not keeping this to ourselves,
    we’re passing it along to the next generation—
God’s fame and fortune,
    the marvelous things he has done.

~ Psalm 78:4 MSG

“Play my church song.” That’s Savannah’s constant request whenever we’re playing music, even if she’s just heard “Not Ashamed” 5 times in a row. She loves her worship music! And the more “bounce” it has to it, the better. What better way to praise God than in the company of your kids? I can honestly say, it wipes away all the frustrations from the day’s battles when I watch my girls worship God. And it’s not even the high-powered worship sessions, it’s also the tender moments when she asks at dinner or before bed, “Can I pray?” Absolutely! Yes, you can pray! But her next question is always, “How do I pray?” And isn’t that what we’re teaching the next generation: how to walk closely and intimately with Father God in all the ways that we have, and even more?

My girls want to pray, dance before God, sing worship songs, and read the Bible. Why? Because it’s what they see their parents doing. Whether it’s our own kids, kids at church, or those in the neighborhood, the next generation is looking for someone to lead them. Psalm 78:5-7 teaches us what to do and why:

He planted a witness in Jacob,
    set his Word firmly in Israel,
Then commanded our parents
    to teach it to their children
So the next generation would know,
    and all the generations to come—
Know the truth and tell the stories
    so their children can trust in God,
Never forget the works of God
    but keep his commands to the letter.

With our actions, with our words, and by our example, what are we teaching the next generation? We’ve been commanded to teach them the truth about God. Let’s determine we’ll yet exemplify Him.

©Heather Potts 2016

Yet Expect

If we already have something, we don’t need to hope for it. But if we look forward to something we don’t yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently. ~ Romans 8:24-25 NLT

“Haven’t Met You Yet” by Michael Bublé was popular when I was pregnant with Savannah. Brad claimed it as his “Daddy-Daughter” song because she was already wrapping him around her little finger and he hadn’t met her, yet. Yet marks a spot in time and says, “Up to this point, I haven’t experienced it, but I fully expect that it will happen.”

At some point in life, we all had hopes and dreams. Since most of us aren’t living those dreams, something must have happened along the way. When hope is deferred—due to continuous disappointments—the heart becomes sick, but when the door opens enough that you can see and feel breakthrough, you feel alive and passionate again, (Proverbs 13:12). Anything worth having—and the things you appreciate the most—are the things you achieve through perseverance, prayer, and faith. There are many things I’ve had to wait for and many more that I’m still waiting for God to fulfill.

Waiting can be so hard, because while we’re trying to stand firm, the enemy is daily trying to beat us down so we’ll give up and not do the things God has prepared in advance for us. But we are encouraged to be strong, not grow weary, and not give up, because when we persevere we will see the reward at the proper time, (2 Chronicles 15:7; Galatians 6:9).

©Heather Potts 2016

Yet Stand

Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. ~ 1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT

Has this ever happened to you: you’re exhausted from lack of sleep over many nights, you have more month left than you have money, and your kids chose today to throw themselves on the floor in tantrums because they kept you up all night and then decided not to nap. And just when you thought the worst was behind you, someone says something that you’d normally blow off but happened to hit you the wrong way at the wrong time…  That was me the other day. God bless my husband! He knows me so well and when he saw the storm brewing in me, he gently helped me to see the situation without the emotional interference.

The enemy knows that if he can wound us the right way at the right time—after several lashings—he’ll win because we’ll quit. I didn’t quit, but exhaustion was really making it a challenge to think clearly. The enemy was taking full advantage of it, plaguing my mind, “Don’t they know what you’ve been through?! How dare they treat you like that!” But as soon as I entered my Father’s presence, He said, “You are not the victim anymore.” And He’s right! I am not the victim! I am the victor and I have the victory!

The enemy does not want to give up territory and he will keep coming after us until we show him time and time again that we will not relent. But as the scripture says, we must be on guard, watchful, awake, aware. The enemy is always looking for an opening. When we let our guard down, be certain he’ll use that opportunity to his full advantage. Therefore, cast aside the victim mentality, remembering always that you have the victory. Declare to the enemy, “I will yet stand!”

©Heather Potts 2016

Yet Praise

But I will hope continually,
And will praise You yet more and more.

~ Psalm 71:14 NKJV

The enemy’s hope in beating us down is to feed into our fears and get us to question God’s faithfulness. Once we begin to question Him, the enemy again comes after us in hopes that we’ll doubt that God will come through this time. And once we begin to doubt, the enemy condemns us for doubting. And he tries to get us into an endless cycle of fear, doubt, and condemnation.

There are days of victory and triumph, but then there are seasons of testing, trial, and refinement. In those seasons, that’s when the enemy peppers us with his seeds of doubt and fear, in hopes we’ll say, “Though God came through before, I don’t see Him moving this time…Can He really get us out of this situation?” Our family has been under heavy fire for a full year and some days it’s all we can do to come before our Father and say, “We need You!” But when we do, His Spirit encourages us and we can say, “I’ll yet praise You.”

Yet is used to emphasize a comparative: Though what’s desired is not what’s seen, I’ll yet, moreover, still do this.

Yet I still dare to hope
when I remember this:

The faithful love of the LORD never ends!

His mercies never cease.

Great is his faithfulness;
his mercies begin afresh each morning.

I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance;
therefore, I will hope in him!”

~ Lamentations 3:21-24 NLT

Though it’s been a hard road and one I definitely would not have chosen, I have seen more miracles and an outpouring of God’s faithfulness and blessings this past year than I think I’ve seen in my whole life.

If you’re finding it hard to breathe, press in to Father God and ask Him to encourage your heart. And when the enemy comes knocking tell him, “Though what’s happening hurts, I will praise my God yet more and more because His faithful love never ends!”

©Heather Potts 2016

Determined

Because the Sovereign LORD helps me,
I will not be disgraced.
Therefore, I have set my face like a stone,
determined to do his will.
And I know that I will not be put to shame.

~ Isaiah 50:7 NLT

Isaiah 50:4 is a scripture I hold close to my heart. It reminds me that these are God’s Words, which He teaches me, and then enables me to share with His people as an encouragement and light to them. But I put so much of myself into my writing that the enemy tries to make it all about me—what will people think about me; what might they discover about me. And the enemy tries to trap me in a painful place—in the places that people experience but never want to speak about, for fear that the darkness will suddenly rise up and overtake them.

But my God whispers to my heart and He says, “You are not your past. You will not be humiliated. You will not be put to shame. Your history is a part of My story for My Glory.” Over and over, He reminds me that I am His and He holds me gently and securely in His righteous right hand. Therefore, I will set my face like flint, like stone, determined to do His will. I will not allow the enemy to come between me and God’s calling anymore. I will stand up to the enemy and the darkness and declare, “DON’T YOU DARE!!! I am healed, whole, and a teacher for the living God. You will not stop me, nor force me back. I will stand my ground and keep pressing forward. I am a daughter of the King and a warrior for His Name! And you, Satan, are under my feet!”

You are not your past—not the things that happened to you or the things you’ve done. You have been crucified with Christ, so you no longer live. Christ lives in you and your life is lived by faith through the Son of God, (Galatians 2:20). If the enemy is working so hard to keep you in a place of condemnation and fear, aren’t you curious as to why? What is he afraid will happen if you stand up and speak out?

©Heather Potts 2016

The Every Days

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace ~ Isaiah 55:12 NIV

The every days. We all have them.

It’s realizing that the enemy has a plan for you, but God’s plan is still greater.

It’s suffering for a night, but waking up to joy and Jesus singing over you in the morning.

It’s the picnics with your kids celebrating nothing more than Tuesday.

It’s the weird charges in your bank account causing you to be in the hole, followed by blessings from Father God.

It’s potty training and wanting to cry when your 3-year-old pees right in front of the toilet.

It’s a text from your spouse, just to let you know they think you are the greatest!

It’s burnt dinners, belated birthday wishes, and that relative who still spells your daughter’s name wrong.

It’s when everything at the monthly meeting goes wrong AGAIN, no matter how much you prepared in advance to ensure it wouldn’t this month.

It’s running late for work and getting stuck in traffic.

It’s exercising when NOTHING in you wants to, but then feeling so good you know you’ll do it again.

It’s celebrating as your friend’s dreams come true!

It’s laundry and dishes and toys everywhere.

It’s a warm cup of coffee in the morning before sunrise.

It’s discovering that plate of food in the freezer, where you put it to cool but then forgot to serve it to your kids the night before.

It’s overcoming what you seriously thought was going to end you and then knowing how to deeply and personally pray for someone else.

It’s standing up to the liar when he tells you that you’re nothing.

It’s the moments when you question God’s calling and He says, “It’s not your reputation on the line; it’s Mine.”

It’s waiting for God to show you the next step.

It’s perseveringly pursuing the passion burning deep inside you.

It’s the sweet moments when Father God reminds you that He loves you, always and forever, no matter what.

It’s realizing that no matter what, God still holds the whole world—you and me—in His hands.

The every days.

©Heather Potts 2016

Threat Terminated

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. ~ Ruth 4:13 NASB

Did you ever consider that the attacks against you aren’t about you at all?

The enemy knew what Ruth’s descendants were called to, so he positioned his attack against Ruth. Ruth was a Moabitess and he assumed if he could take away everything, she’d crumble and go back to what was familiar. But the hand of God was strong on her and even when her mother-in-law begged Ruth to leave, Ruth refused. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, became bitter when her husband and both of her sons died. In her despair, Naomi felt it would be better to be alone, but Ruth wouldn’t leave. Ruth’s decision would forever change her life and the lives of countless others.

Last August, God told me to attend our church’s weekly morning prayer meetings, where we pray over our community.  At one of the meetings, God gave me a vision of our children—not just my girls, but the whole community of children who are currently being raised up—reaching out to, loving on, caring for, encouraging, healing, and helping those who were lost, hurting, and in need of a Savior. Then Holy Spirit said to me, “It starts with you.” He said my girls have a calling on their lives, but their journey will be strengthened as my marriage and walk with God are strengthened.

The next generation needs us to fight the fight before them, pray for them, and cling to God and His calling for our lives. If Ruth had not stuck with Naomi, had not gone to work in Boaz’s field, she and Boaz would not have met, married, and become great-grandparents to David… The enemy knows God’s plans for our lives and it makes him afraid. So he hunts, attacks, wounds, and keeps coming after us all in an attempt to keep us and future generations from fulfilling God’s plan.

If you are under fire and it feels like the hits just keep coming, one after another, declare as David did: “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me,” (Psalm 56:3-4 NASB).

©Heather Potts 2016 

Kill Shot

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ~ 1 Peter 5:8 NIV

Romans 8:35-39 describe the many things that cannot separate us from the love of God. But if the enemy can get us to believe otherwise, then he can own us. If, for example, he can get you to constantly compare yourself to others by asking, “What’s wrong with me?” or “Why do I always have to be the one to ____ (fill in the blank)?” or “When is it my turn to be taken care of?” Devour means “Destroy; be consumed with grief.” When we listen to and begin to ask questions like these, that’s when we’re in danger of being devoured.

I used to wonder how anyone could find themselves in the position to be devoured. But then after walking through a season in which I was asking one or more of those questions, I realized standing or falling is all about focus. Because I was focusing on those lies, those questions, and then the false answers the enemy was spinning my way, it caused me to question the Truth. When we focus on God’s unconditional love for us, we begin to see ourselves as He sees us and can’t help but fall madly in love with Him, needing Him more than life and breath. But when we entertain the enemy’s questions, we begin to question God’s love and faithfulness and we begin to fall.

In 1 Peter 5:6-9, God gives us specific steps to keep us from harm, keeping our focus on Him:

·         Humble yourself under God (v 6)

·         Cast your anxiety on God (v 7)

·         Be alert and of sober mind (v 8)

·         Resist the enemy and stand firm (v 9)

I encourage and challenge you: if you’ve been entertaining those questions, it’s time to change your mind! You were not called to anyone else’s life or race—quit comparing yourself to others! Father God loves you unconditionally and He has given you the mind of Christ so that you’ll be able to focus on the truth and not the liar. Now stand firm and defeat the devourer!

©Heather Potts 2016 

Wounded

Oh, sing to the LORD a new song!
For He has done marvelous things;
His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory. ~ Psalm 98:1 NKJV

Just as we know that God has a plan for us (Jeremiah 29:11), we must also remember that our enemy, the devil, has a plan for us, (John 10:10). First he hunts us looking for ways to steal our identity, then he attacks us trying to kill our will to fight, and finally he wounds us in order to destroy God’s plan for our lives. When a person is wounded, it’s rarely the initial wound that destroys. Rather, it’s the way they isolate themselves, trying to cover up and hide their wound, but never really getting it treated so that it could heal properly.

Destroy means, “Render useless, cause its emptiness to be perceived.” The enemy uses people and circumstances to sentence us to punishment for life. He sentences us with depression, addiction, disease, shame, and fear, just to name a few. Hourly, he condemns us. Daily, he fights against us. And eternally, he means to destroy us.

But God has plans for us, too!

God sent Jesus to give us the victory! Victory is “Deliverance from dangers and distresses; to be set free.” There was a time, not too long ago, that I lived under the enemy’s sentences, not because I didn’t know Jesus, but because I did not stand firm in victory—the victory that was rightfully mine because I am a daughter of the King. But God called to me and reminded me that I was made to stand in victory and not cower as a victim.

Jesus gives us the position of victory. Now is the time for us to stand up in it, claim it, and declare it over our lives! If you’ve been going to God and still can’t seem to break free from the chains binding you, I encourage you to do two additional things: 1) ask a few others to stand with and pray for you and 2) seek Godly counsel through a Christian therapist, pastor, or even lay-pastor. It’s vitally important that you don’t isolate yourself. Instead, be vulnerable and allow others to walk alongside you to your victory! Overcoming life-sentences are often not easy. But by grace, we are overcomers and more than conquerors, (1 John 5:4, Romans 8:37)!

©Heather Potts 2016

Attacked

If he gets the upper hand and kills me, the Philistines will all become your slaves. But if I get the upper hand and kill him, you’ll all become our slaves and serve us. ~ 1 Samuel 17:9 MSG

At 17, I was diagnosed with endometriosis, which isn’t deadly, but painful and incurable. In 8 years, I had 4 surgeries and several different medications, the side-effects of which wreaked havoc on my body. But in 2006, I was told I was healed and had to walk it out. I believed, but walking was harder than believing.  I remember standing in the bathroom almost hourly, rebuking the enemy and claiming my healing. But after several months, I realized I didn’t notice the pain anymore. I walked in power and healing for 9 years, quickly rebuking the enemy if he tried to steal my healing through his lies.

But things that come easily when you’re well-rested take a lot of extra effort when you’re exhausted. And that’s when the enemy ramps up his attacks. First he steals your power and authority by attacking your identity. And then he kills your will to fight by attacking your strength. If your body is weak but your mind is strong because your thoughts are held captive and made obedient to Christ, your response to the enemy’s attacks is to defend and fight back. But if both your body and mind are weak, there aren’t automatic responses to the enemy’s attacks.

Last May, I started experiencing pains similar to endometriosis. By July, I started believing that maybe it had come back. From May to August, I remembered how hard I had to fight to gain the victory the first time around and I wasn’t sure I had strength enough to do it again. But then Holy Spirit said it was time to decide: was I going to pick up my weapons and fight or was I going to allow the enemy to win.

God has given us the weapons of His Word, prayer, and praise. When we pray God’s Word and then praise Him in advance for the victory, God’s empowering presence falls upon us. First you’re encouraged to pick up your shield of faith and block the enemy’s attacks. As you continue to press in, you pick up your sword of the Spirit and defend yourself from the enemy’s advance. And before you know it, you’ve begun wielding your sword, defeating the enemy in your life and in the lives of others.

1 John 5:4 says God’s children overcome the world, gaining victory through our faith. We are His sons and daughters and it is time for us to decide: will we pick up our weapons and fight?

©Heather Potts 2016