Where Were You?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH0PmaKxOtA

Too Good to Not Believe ~ Cody Carnes

‘Lord,’ Martha said to Jesus, ‘if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.’ ~ John 11:21-22 NIVUK

Recently, my prayers felt dry, empty. One morning, I asked Holy Spirit to help me to pray, again. Then, in the way that only He can, Holy Spirit led me to my answer.

John 11 opens with the news that Lazarus is ill. Instead of going to Lazarus immediately, Jesus doesn't begin the journey to His friend’s home till after Lazarus died. Before He’d even arrived, Martha ran out to meet Jesus and said, “Lord...if you had been here, my brother would not have died,” (v.21). In essence, “Where were You?” 

Have you ever asked that of someone? Have you ever asked that of God? Where were You in my need? Where were You in my suffering? Where were You when we were praying for healing? Martha’s attack, though out of pain and anger, was not unleashed upon a stranger, but on a very close friend. That realization answered my questions about my prayers. Because I know that God is with me and He hears my prayers, I expected Him to answer when we prayed fervently for Brad’s sick friend, and again when we prayed for another friend’s mom, and again when we prayed for someone else. But when each person either passed away or kept getting worse, it became harder and harder to pray and believe that my prayers were being heard.

Jesus was not troubled by Martha’s attack, nor is He by ours. Only someone who cares about the relationship cares enough to ask, “Where were you” in their pain. Instead of rebuking Martha, He redirected her focus to the truth: “Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” (vv.25-26). The most important answer is not Jesus’ reasoning for how He answered our prayers, but our answer to His question: Do you believe? Do you trust Me? 

The Lord has done His job, and He continues to remain faithful and trustworthy. Our job is to pray fervently, walk purely, and believe wholly. If you’ve been feeling dry in your prayer life, it’s time to ask yourself, “Do I trust Jesus? Do I believe?”

©Heather Potts 2021

How Do You Decide?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dH0PmaKxOtA&list=RDdH0PmaKxOtA&start_radio=1&rv=dH0PmaKxOtA&t=0

Too Good to Not Believe ~ Cody Carnes

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

    and lean not on your own understanding;

 in all your ways submit to him,

    and he will make your paths straight.

~ Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV

How do you decide what to have for dinner, the route to take to the store, which outfit to wear, or what to do with $25? Many of the decisions we make each day seem small, even insignificant to us. Recently, I sold something for $25. I hadn’t thought about what I was going to do with the money, so I put it in our “fun” budget. Those small, no-big-deal decisions can have a big impact when we invite God into them.

Sadly, some of our friends are in the middle of a crisis. Long story short, I volunteered to take a meal to them. However, due to the number of adults I’d have to feed, I ordered some food from a local restaurant. Little did I know it, but God had arranged for the item to sell for the exact amount I’d need to cover dinner: $25!

Proverbs 3:6 says in all our ways, we’re to acknowledge --submit to--God. Not just in the big or scary things, but in all things: all situations and decisions. 1 Peter 5:7 says to cast all our cares on him--all our anxieties, all our worries, and all our concerns. Have questions about your finances or an upcoming vacation? Toss them to God. Worried about the doctor’s findings? Throw it to God. Anxious about the new school year or changes at your job? Cast them at His feet.

When God says to cast our cares, it’s not a gentle placing of our questions, cares, or concerns. It’s like a major league pitcher hurling them across home plate. God doesn’t want you to keep them, carry them, or waste any more time, effort, or energy on them. Cast your cares on God and wait for His reply. Perhaps the reason you’ve held them is because you feel God’s reply takes too long for your comfort. But Proverbs 3:5-7 say not to assume or pretend we know best. Instead, we’re to put all our trust and confidence in the Lord, submitting to Him in all things. It’s only from a posture of total submission that we can recognize and follow the paths that God lays out for us. His path isn’t one big answer for all of life’s questions. He has an answer and a promise for each need, question, care, and concern.

The next time you receive something or have a question, hold it out to God and ask what you’re to do with it. His answer just might surprise you.

©Heather Potts 2021

Most Essential Need

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLBvCTV23qw

Nothing Else ~ Cody Carnes

Glory in His holy name; 

Let the hearts of those who seek and require the Lord [as their most essential need] rejoice. 

~ Psalm 105:3 AMP

Have you ever noticed that when you’re trying to pray or have quiet time with God, it doesn’t take any effort for you to get distracted? That happens to me more often than I’d like to admit (even to myself). When you confess those times to God and ask for His help, He is faithful to help.

Yesterday morning, at church, we heard from some missionaries our church supports. Though we often hear from missionaries, yesterday’s story hit me differently. The missionaries told a story about someone who’d been walking around in darkness and was so desperate for the Light that, once exposed to it, this person asked, “Where can I get my hands on a Bible?”

Like many people, I have access to multiple versions and copies of the Bible, but sadly, my greatest times of hunger and thirst for God’s Word (with only a handful of exceptions) have been either during a fast, during a very hard time, or when I am seeking a specific answer. Yet this person’s desperate need and desire was for God’s Holy Word. I prayed in that moment, confessing the times I’ve let emails, the budget, the dishes, the laundry, TV, social media, even the hamster distract me from God’s Word and His presence. I prayed and asked God to give me a hunger and thirst for Him, again. Not for the purpose of blessings, or filling my needs, but just to know Him better. Just an opportunity to be with Him.

If this resonates with you, then my prayer is that you’d cast aside the distractions - taking thoughts captive is a huge help - and seek the Lord as your most essential need.

Seek and deeply long for the Lord and His strength [His power, His might];

Seek and deeply long for His face and His presence continually. ~ Psalm 105:4 AMP

©Heather Potts 2021

Follow the Light

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzQpptEdivA

Let the Light In ~ Cody Carnes

 

Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, “I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life.” ~ John 8:12 AMP

 

Yesterday morning, a sweet friend gave me a cute plant…but it was in desperate need of some love. My friend looked at me apologetically and said, “I swear it was alive when I bought it.” I smiled and thanked her for the gift. Later, when I was leaving work, someone else spotted my plant and said, “Oh, it’s a shamrock.” I smiled, not knowing anything about plants. She explained that it looked droopy because it wasn’t in the sun but said that as soon as the sun shone on it, it would come to life, again.

 

It’s interesting how much we’re like that plant. Without His Presence and a constant connection to God and His Spirit, we begin to wither and fade. But immediately, upon entering His Presence, we’re revived, and our Spirit is renewed by His!

 

If these have been some dark and dreary days for you, it’s time to let the light in—the Light of life. Let Him shine in you, as you are refreshed, renewed, and revived. Then, let Him shine through you, as you share His great love and mercies with others.

 

“I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.” ~ Isaiah 42:6-7 NIV

©Heather Potts 2021

The Secret Place

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTHS4W1bPj8&list=RDGMEMMib4QpREwENw3_jAc0YgNwVMHTHS4W1bPj8&start_radio=1

Run to the Father ~ Cody Carnes

HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand]. ~ Psalm 91:1 AMPC

My kids love to play hide-and-seek. They love to find new places to hide while the other is distracted and then yell, “Boo!” when they’re discovered. Regardless of where they hide, they always know to come find me in my “secret place” in the mornings. I’ve always had a “secret place,” where I could “get away” with God.

The other morning, burdens hung heavily upon me. I sat on my bed, writing my prayers to God about all my frustrations, fears, needs, and worries. When my pen stopped, Holy Spirit called me into the secret place. As soon as I stepped inside, I could feel God’s presence envelope me.

There’s nothing mystical about the floor of my closet, with my clothes hanging near my head. I know God will meet me anywhere. But here, I’ve asked questions and received answers; I’ve done research and found God’s treasures; and I’ve spent countless hours in battle through prayer and have seen results. The secret place is not about a location, but an expectation. When I enter the secret place of the Most High, I know He’ll meet me here.

The other morning was no different. Almost as soon as I sat down, the words, “He will quiet you with His love,” leapt from the verse I have taped to the wall, (Zephaniah 3:17). As I cried tears of a child who is known by her Father, all I could do was thank Him: Thank you for knowing me so well. Thank you for hearing me, and for ensuring that I hear You, too.

Where do you go to “get away” with God? Because His Spirit lives inside you, God is always with you. Remember, it’s not about location, but expectation. Where do you expect Him to meet with you?

The Lord your God is with you,

he is mighty to save.

He will take great delight in you,

he will quiet you with his love,

he will rejoice over you with singing.

~ Zephaniah 3:17 NIV84

©Heather Potts 2020

Comfortable

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4BhTAJ49MQ0

Nothing Else ~ Cody Carnes

Comfortable has two sides. The first is a Valley of Struggle, where you wait for God to move a mountain. But after months and years of waiting, you get comfortable in your pain or mess, assuming God won’t change it. The second is a Land of Enjoyment, where you give and serve a little, but not inconveniently. You’ve heard of the Valley of Struggle, but don’t want to give up your comfortable lifestyle, so you try to drown out the feeling that it’s not all about your comfort. You argue your case: Why do I have to be the one who’s uncomfortable? What about my comfort? Though you feel justified, you don’t have peace.

I was at a Bible Study when God first challenged my comfort, asking me to give away a railroad nail I carried. I got it five years earlier, during a sermon on forgiveness. God wanted another girl to have it, so she’d feel the same freedom I’d received. I argued my case, asking God why it had to be my nail. I was 23 when God asked me to give away that nail. Today, God continues to draw me out of my comfort-zone. Most recently when I asked God, “why,” He whispered, “As soon as you get too comfortable, you stop growing.”

Jesus said that He didn’t come to be served – to be comfortable – but to serve, setting aside His comfort to reach a world that needed the comfort of the Father, (Matthew 20:28). Uncomfortable could mean taking your elderly neighbor to get his hair cut, serving food to the homeless, praying with your co-worker, reaching out to an estranged loved one, or giving away your nail so another can feel the freedom of forgiveness. Giving up a little comfort looks like being the hands and feet of Jesus. Maybe God will take the little comfort you gave up and give a whole lot of comfort to someone in a Valley of Struggle.

‘for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ‘I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ … ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ ~ Matthew 25:35-36, 40 NKJV

©Heather Potts 2020