Be Still pt.2

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1EwKwayzLM

Hold on to Me ~ Lauren Diagle

 Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

~ Psalm 46:10 NKJV

God’s been showing me that He wants to grow some things in my life, but first, we need to remove anything from the soil of my heart that might choke out the blessings: thorns, grubs, weeds. In her book, Without Rival, Lisa Bevere recounts a conversation she had with God when He told her something similar. He showed her that grubs in her heart had “nibbled at the roots of [her] marriage and diminished the growth of the flowers of [her] friendships.” God told Lisa that she could choose to cover over them or renounce them in word and deed and give God permission to remove them. She chose God’s way. Then God told her it was also time to pluck out all the weeds. At that point, Lisa struggled, not wanting her soil to look “naked and barren.”  

Growing up in Wisconsin, I had no context for this. Our yard had the occasional prickly weed or dandelion, but pulling them wouldn’t make the yard naked. But after living in Florida, I understood. Our yard in Ellenton was sand, covered by a thin layer of dirt, and tons of weeds. Our landlords tried several times to plant grass, but there were so many weeds, they choked out the grass seedlings.  That’s what God was trying to convey to Lisa (and me). He doesn’t just want us to look fruitful. He wants our lives to be fruitful. The weeds gave the appearance of a full yard, but a bit of mowing or kicking around the dirt revealed the emptiness. As long as our hearts are full of weeds, we can’t bear the fruit God wants to grow in our lives, because there’s no room for healthy roots.

If, like me, God’s been calling you to pull the weeds from your heart so that the rich and juicy fruit He wants to bring forth will grow and flourish, it’s time to do it. Remember God—your Creator, Friend, and Defender—will cover over you. This isn’t a trick to shame you, but to heal and strengthen you. It’s time to give up your ways, allowing God to produce the fruit of the promises He’s buried deep within your heart.  

©Heather Potts 2021

Makin' Plans

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nr8OfXrQ9UE

Be Still ~ Red Rocks Worship

We can make our plans, but the Lord determines our steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9 NLT

I enjoy New Year's Resolutions, Vision Boards, and making plans. If there's one thing the past decade has taught me, though, it's to be pressed into God to ensure that my plans are His.

My initial plans didn't include moving to Florida. My secondary plans didn't include returning. God had other plans. 

Our plans were never for me to work when either of our girls were little. God had other plans.

Our plans didn't include hardships, hurts, sicknesses, or losses. With a word, God could have caused us to bypass all of it, versus grow through it. While God didn't cause the hurt, His desire is for us to grow in and closer to Him. I guess our plans didn't include real growth. Fortunately, God had other plans.

God has surrounded us with many wise people. He encourages us to walk with, learn from, and even share our stories with them. It's through the sharing of our lives that our faith is strengthened and stretched, causing us to grow. 

God has many wonderful things He wants to share with us. As we envision dreams, make plans, and set goals, let's be sure make room for God's plans, even if it means laying down our own, remembering that the best course for our lives is His.

©Heather Potts 2020

Shine

https://youtu.be/d17hi1s6Tgg

Light Shine Bright ~ Toby Mac

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. ~ Matthew 5:16 NIV

In Wisconsin, especially in the winter, people take notice when the sun shines. Even the girls have noticed how dark it is and think it’s still time for bed, instead of for school. And for the next week, the darkness may feel like it's growing, as we draw closer to the shortest "day" of the year.

I remember growing up, hearing people talk about "seasonal depression," which was attributed to the lack of sunlight in the winter months. But until coming back from Florida, the "sunshine state," I didn't realize how much not seeing the sun could affect you. The same is true about the light you carry inside of you: 

“...You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now…shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven," (Matthew 5:14-16 MSG).

As dark as winter is, I couldn't imagine living even the brightest season without Christ. Last winter, I noticed how much darker, colder, and longer winter felt about mid-January, because everyone had put away their Christmas lights. People who don't know Jesus, or who've lost sight of Him, walk around every day in darkness. They feel the cold of winter, but never the warmth of Christmas – the season of welcoming and experiencing Jesus. This year, don't let the generosity and love of Jesus stop shining in you, just because you put away the tree. Let God's light always shine brightly through you, for all to see. 

©Heather Potts 2018

Gravity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xx0d3R2LoU

Reckless Love ~ Cory Asbury

Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock ~ Matthew 7:24 NKJV

Gravity is the force that keeps you on earth. When a rocket is trying to launch into space, gravity is the force that works against it, making lift-off difficult. The rocket succeeds when the force propelling it up is stronger than the force pulling it down.

We all experience this: God gives us a vision or calls us to “go,” and the enemy immediately pounces, heaping on distracting and discouraging circumstances, trying to thwart God’s plans for our lives. In the face of such adversity—forces that tear away jobs, friends, homes, family, and health—how can we be propelled forward? We must be like the wise man who built his house upon the rock, the powerful and unchanging Word of God.

·         When we root ourselves in God, we will never fail to bear fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

·         When we have need, God provides in ways we can’t imagine (Deuteronomy 29:5; Matthew 14:17-21)

·         When we need wisdom, God is always there (Matthew 6:33; Matthew 7:8)

·         When we suffer from dis-ease, God is our Healer (Psalm 23:3; Psalm 103:3-4; Matthew 9:21-22)

Standing upon the Rock, though the storms come and beat upon the house, it stands, (Matthew 7:25).

It’s been crazy-hard transitioning here, away from our church family, friends, the warmth, and the life we built together for 17 years. But just as the rocket must persevere, depending upon the ignited fuel to propel it past gravity, we must believe in and speak God’s truths over ourselves until they manifest in our lives, propelling us past the lies of the enemy that are meant to tear and hold us down.

What is the enemy trying desperately to keep God from launching in your life? Ask Holy Spirit to give you promises, remembering that when you build your life upon the Rock of His Word, you will stand!

©Heather Potts 2018