Hope in Darkness

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIS0ToE3Pl8

I Exalt Thee ~ Jesus Image Worship

 

For I know the plans I have for you,” says the LORD. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11 NLT

 

The message in Jeremiah 29:11 is one of hope for a dark season. But what many of us don’t realize is that it wasn’t given on Monday and then by Friday, everything was sunshine and bubbles. The message of hope, in this verse, was meant to light the path down a long, dark tunnel that lasted several more decades. That’s exactly why God sends messages of hope. He knows that we’ll need His promises to endure our long, dark seasons—some lasting longer than others, and all lasting much longer than we’d like.

 

Yesterday, we heard that a friend is very sick. Even though this sickness appeared suddenly, God wasn’t surprised. The same is true in our darkest moments and toughest days: they may take us by surprise, but God knew they were coming and planned strength and encouragement for us in these times.

 

When the battle is raging, fears are mounting, winds are howling, and the lion is roaring, it can often feel like this season is you against all of them. But after tightening the Belt of Truth, taking up the Sword of the Spirit in one hand and the Shield of Faith in the other, standing firm upon God’s promise, knowing Holy Spirit is with you, and God’s angel armies are your rearguard, you suddenly realize it’s US against them!

 

Regardless of the length or darkness of your season, remember that God is with you. He’s surrounding you and He’s giving you the encouragement and promises you’ll need to persevere.

©Heather Potts 2020

Just Wait

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r49V9QcYheQ&list=RDr49V9QcYheQ&start_radio=1&t=0

Take Courage ~ Kristene DiMarco

Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the LORD! ~ Psalm 27:14 ESV

Shortly after Savannah was born, I was miserable at work. Looking back, it wasn’t because of the work, but because I felt robbed of being a stay-at-home mom. When an opportunity presented itself at another organization, I jumped at it, thinking it would fill the hole created by disappointment. I was upset when I didn’t get it, causing me to keep waiting for God to move.

Right now, many families are awaiting final news of what schooling will look like in the fall. Waiting has caused anxiety to rise in kids, parents, and teachers. The longer we must wait, the more ammunition the enemy has to fire at our thoughts, using our own minds against us as we think up more worst-case scenarios.

Perhaps waiting is the point of this season. Every time an unexpected change occurs, we can choose to stand firm on God’s promises, remembering His faithfulness in the past. Or we can try to make things happen in our timing, by our strength and power. The latter happens out of a lack of trust that God will – or is able to – come through for us this time. As the Bible exemplifies for us, when others have tried the second option, it never turned out well.

Maybe plans for the next school year aren’t why you’re waiting. Regardless of the reason, waiting is still an important season, as it shapes and expands our field of vision. It’s an opportunity for God to separate the dross from the gold, purifying our hearts, so we’ll more and more reflect His glory, (2 Corinthians 3:18). In this season of waiting, instead of allowing fear and frustration to build, allow anticipation to turn into hope, joy, and excitement. While we didn’t choose to wait, we get to choose how we wait.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxbfyt8Rraw

Hurry Up and Wait ~ Mercy Me

©Heather Potts 2020

When Plans Change

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glent8xwAL4

Walking Like Giants ~ Stars Go Dim

I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. ~ Psalm 121:1-2 MSG

Did you ever expect plans to work one way, and ended up surprised when God took you in another direction?

In February 2006, I really started growing in my faith in Jesus. The more I leaned in, the more He revealed to me. One day, I confessed my dream of wanting to be a writer. God told me that I needed to get baptized, first. In October 2006, I was baptized in the Gulf of Mexico.

Looking back, I laugh at how silly I was: I expected that the very next day, I'd be handed a writing position or something similar. It wasn't the next day, and it wasn't a writing position. Five months later, I started working in at a large newspaper, as an Advertising Assistant. In 2008, God told me to start a Bible Study at work. I reminded God that it was a newspaper and they didn't like Him there. He said, "I know. Do it anyway." It was a small group, but we always looked forward to it. Then something wonderful happened: God started depositing seeds in my heart, words to share with the group throughout the week. I began writing, sending encouraging emails that were inspired by God. He kept His word. It wasn't in my timing and it didn't look the way I thought it would, but my dream was all about me and His plan included me.

If there's a dream or passion you're aiming for, don't give up—not on the dream or on God. He's got big plans and they include you. They may take longer than you'd like and may take you places you never expected you'd go, but say, "Yes!" to Jesus and He'll keep His promises to you. He's faithful to His Word!

©Heather Potts 2020

Yes and Amen

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZ9yEiZApt0&start_radio=1&list=RDtZ9yEiZApt0&t=0

My Defender ~ Jeremy Camp

I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; ~ Psalms 130:5 ESV

Scholars say there are over 6,000 promises in the Bible. That means, regardless of the circumstance, there's more than one promise in there for you! 

What do you need today, this week, month, and year? Ask Holy Spirit for a Promise on which to stand. Ask for a Word from God, so when the devil says, "No way. Na-ah. Never gonna happen for you," you can declare with assurance and authority, "All of God's promises are Yes and Amen!" 

Father, be with my friends today. Pour out Your Spirit upon them. Send them Your promises, upon which they can stand, and declare in Your authority as Yes and Amen! In Jesus Name I pray Amen.  

©Heather Potts 2019

New Year Blessings

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKaXY4IdZ40

When You Believe ~ Whitney Houston ft. Mariah Carey

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9 ESV

I took some time, yesterday, to review 2018 and realized that as hard as the year was, God's blessings were as numerous, and His promises stronger. I won't take you through our whole year, but I hope this one story touches you.

Sunday, December 30th started out as any other. After the church service, we ran into Elizabeth’s 4K teacher and asked her to keep an eye on Elizabeth. We’ve been concerned that our “new schedule” will take a toll on the girls. Brad’s new job begins at 5am. With having only one car, the girls and I have been getting up at 4:40am to drive him there. For the first few days, the girls went back to sleep for 60-90 minutes before having to get up for school. But the last day, no one went back to sleep. Elizabeth’s teacher promised to let us know.

After getting the girls, we went to get our coats, but Brad stopped to chat with someone. I got the coats and waited as he finished. After a few minutes, Brad and the other man made their way to where I was waiting. Brad looked at the other man and said, “Tell my wife what you just told me.” The man said, “I have a truck and I’ve been praying for God to show me who to give it to. I heard you had a need and wanted to give you my truck.”

Who says that! How did he know?

Brad and I both cried in the church foyer! The man said he and his family are leaving to be missionaries and we could pay him—if we wanted and could afford it—or not. As it turns out, I received a year-end bonus and had been praying about how God wanted us to use it. It certainly wasn’t enough for a new car. But with God, nothing is impossible!

Of all the promises God gave me in 2018, this one stands out: This is God’s year to act! (Luke 4:19 MSG). I pray that your 2019 is filled with blessings more numerous and promises stronger than any challenge you may face.

©Heather Potts 2019

If I'm Not Well

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. ~ Ephesians 5:31 NKJV

Jimmy Evans’ series, Every Great Marriage, discusses the attributes and roles of the husband and wife. The husband is the prophet, priest, and king of the home. As priest, he’s an intercessor, connecting God and man. He is also sacrificially sensitive to his wife’s needs; if she’s not well, then he’s not well and everything matters. Because they are one flesh, what affects her affects him and vice versa.

If the husband’s right arm began to hurt, he would cover, secure and protect it from further injury while it healed. If it didn’t get better, he would seek medical help. If he tried to ignore his arm, the pain would eventually demand his attention and cause him to take action. But even with all the things he could do, one thing he wouldn’t do is cut off his arm and walk around as if everything was better because he’d removed “the problem.” 

If we wouldn’t do that to our own arm, why do we treat our spouse—our own flesh—as something easily ignored or removed?  We might not like or agree with the choices our spouse is making, but just as we would seek God, stand on His promises, and get medical help as needed for a bodily injury, we need to do the same for our treasured husband and our beloved wife.

Father, forgive us for the ways we’ve treated our spouse with contempt, as if they were a pair of smelly socks instead of an incredible gift from You. Help us to always see our spouse as we did on our wedding day: the one we love and want always by our side. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2016

Stand, part 2

Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ~ Ephesians 6:14 NLT

After God told me to stand, I had to remember What, Where, and How to stand.

What: We stand on God’s Word.

There are well over 3,000 promises in God’s Word.  When problems arise and the enemy attacks, we must find the promises upon which to stand. But the LORD’s plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken. ~ Psalm 33:11 NLT

Where: We stand on the Rock

God is our rock, protection, fortress, refuge, stronghold against trouble.  Where else would we turn or stand? He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. ~ Psalm 62:6 NKJV

How: We stand in our Full Armor

The armor of God enables us to not only stand, but to defeat our enemy, disabling his attacks and enabling our advance. So stand firm and hold your ground, having tightened the wide band of truth (personal integrity, moral courage) around your waist and having put on the breastplate of righteousness (an upright heart), and having strapped on your feet the gospel of peace in preparation [to face the enemy with firm-footed stability and the readiness produced by the good news].  Above all, lift up the [protective] shield of faith with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. ~ Ephesians 6:14-17 AMP

Whether you’re facing unemployment, pain or sickness in your body, struggles with your children or other family members, an overwhelming mountain of debt, or any number of issues, find your promises from God and remember to STAND!

©Heather Potts 2016

I Failed

How often have you felt that you failed within the past month, week, day, hour?

There was one day a few months ago that I felt like a failure. I was so low that I was buying into all the lies and condemnation the enemy threw my way.  But the next day, Holy Spirit said to me, “Put off this mistaken identity of shame. It is not yours!”

If you’ve failed, it’s ok. God’s grace is bigger than our mistakes—even the ones we deem as failures.  It’s ok to fail.  Failing is not the same as being a failure.  You are not a failure, because you refuse to quit.

Now stand up, dust yourself off, and declare this over yourself:

I refuse to quit or get discouraged (Galatians 6:9)!  I will continue to persevere and receive what God has promised me (Hebrews 10:36). I will run with perseverance, throwing off everything that tries to stop me (Hebrews 12:1)!  I refuse to take on a spirit of despair or self-pity.  I refuse to be discouraged!  I refuse to be condemned!  There is now no condemnation for me (Romans 8:1)!  Today will be a great day and Holy Spirit will remind me to choose right thoughts.  I am regaining territory the enemy has stolen from me.  I am a warrior princess! I will be patient with myself and remember that it is God who is doing a good work in me and HE will bring it to full completion (Philippians 2:13, 1:6).

In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

©Heather Potts 2016

Racing Stripes

Growing up on the YMCA swim team meant swim meets every weekend and hundreds of bored kids waiting for their next heat. So we entertained ourselves… We gave ourselves racing stripes, writing “Eat My Wake” and other cheers on our legs with black magic marker.  Racing stripes were originally applied to race cars to help the driver realign his spun-out car.  During my semester of rest, God gave me several scriptures to realign my focus on Him when my mind felt like it was spinning out of control.  But my two main scriptures or racing stripes were Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” and Hebrews 12:1-2, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”

Running is hard work!  My legs would hurt, my feet would ache, my arms would feel tired because I was often pushing one or both girls in our double stroller.  But through it all, I would strap on my racing stripes, keep my “finish line” fixed ever before me in my mind and push through.  Whether I was physically running a route, or just running to be closer to my God, to know my Father in a deeper, more intimate way, my racing stripes kept me focused, and allowed me to “throw off” everything that tried to stop me.

What are some of the things that are trying to stop you from pursuing your Father and His purposes for your life?  Strap on your racing stripes—your promises from Father God—and run hard, straight into His loving embrace!

© Heather Potts 2016

Run w Perseverance

You shall be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD will name. ~ Isaiah 62:2 NKJV

I’ve always hated running.

Last September, however, a friend suggested running as a great way to improve my overall mental, emotional, and physical health.  Though I protested, she told me to do it anyway.  A few days later, after running 2 blocks, I felt like I was going to die! 

On October 10, while attending the Daughters of the King conference, Jennifer Nock, referencing Isaiah 62:2, shared how God changed Sarai and Abram to Sarah and Abraham in order to replace the works of their hands with His power to fulfill His promised purpose. That night, God promised to call me by my new name.

By late October, I was running ¾ mile and got talked into running in the Jingle 5K, beginning my official training on October 24.  But on the 26^th, everything was working against me: both girls were throwing tantrums, I couldn’t find clean running clothes, and I felt like I had a UTI.  Finally, I said, “I’m going anyway!” I found clothes that would do, put the girls in the double stroller, drank plenty of water and away I went.  Near the end of my run, I heard Holy Spirit say I am “one who perseveres.”  He called me by my new name! He called me by His promised purpose for me!  But I wanted to know more, so I asked Him to reveal scripture that went with my new name. He led me to Hebrews 12:1-2, “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus.”

God has a promised purpose for each of us. In this new year, let's be determined to never stop running after God and He’ll never stop amazing us!

©Heather Potts 2016

Not for the Fainthearted

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. ~ John 10:10 NASB

War is not for the faint of heart but for the armed.  With great intensity and mighty power this war will be won—this trial overcome—through worship, prayer, faith and courage to believe as we keep moving forward.

God spoke this truth to me over a year ago, when we were standing face-to-face with the possibility of Brad’s second open-heart surgery.  It turned out to be a “reading” error, in that someone hadn’t properly read the notes of his first heart surgery when comparing them to his most recent tests.  We were beyond relieved that he didn’t need surgery!

As I have prepared for today—for this C-Section and the birth of our daughter—I’m reminded that “War is not for the faint of heart but for the armed.”  Am I at war?  According to John 10:10, the enemy is always plotting against us, looking for ways to steal from us, and ever at work trying to destroy us.  But we have the Lord on our side and He has prepared us!  He has given us the tools that we need, surrounded us with friends who lift us up in prayer, and given us His Comforter and Counselor.

Brad & I have packed, but more than that, we have prayed and have taken communion, standing firm in our faith knowing that our God is Mighty and Powerful and has never let us down.  We trust that He has gone before us and prepared the hands of the surgeon, as well as the hearts and minds of all those who will come in contact and care for us during our stay.  He has given us restful sleep before our “big day,” and has given us peace in our hearts and minds.  He even arranged for the perfect care for Savannah so that we could concentrate on the immediate needs of Elizabeth before we all come home to be together. 

I’m betting today you are not preparing to give birth to a child, but maybe to a dream.  Or maybe today, you are squashing fears that the enemy has used time and time again to try to stop you from living out the dream that the Lord has placed in you.  Whatever it is, God always goes before His people so that they may have life abundantly.  Trust in your God today.  Cry out to Him and ask for His provision and protection as you continue to make your way forward, remembering that war is not for the faint of heart but the armed.

Father, thank you that we never have to walk alone.  Thank you for sending Your Comforter and Counselor.  Thank you that you always go before us, preparing the way for us.  We love and trust you, Lord.  In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2014

Hiccups

Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out. ~ Ephesians 6:13-18 MSG

Hiccup: a minor difficulty, interruption, setback ~ dictionary.com

I was thinking about hiccups this morning as little Elizabeth had them, causing my whole stomach to jolt with each one.  Hiccups inside the womb are rather comical.  Hiccups in your infant when she’s almost asleep are frustrating, as there are so few “tricks” to stop them.  Hiccups in life can be just as frustrating, as they seem to come out of nowhere.  And even though they are “temporary,” in the midst of them, they can be all-consuming.

But Ephesians 6 reminds us to be prepared and to take all the help we can get.  You see, we may not know exactly when the hiccups will come or how they will come—as a job loss, as a sickness, as financial difficulty, or the failing of promise fulfilled—but we can take comfort in knowing that God has already given us everything we need so that after the dust settles, we will still be on our feet.  This passage also reminds us that God’s Word is an indispensable weapon.  Joshua 1:8 instructs us to meditate on it day and night so that we will prosper and succeed in everything we do.  We are also to keep our eyes open by praying for ourselves as well as each other so that we will be strong during this ongoing warfare and so that no one will fall behind.

So what are the hiccups in your life?  What are your setbacks, interruptions, and difficulties?  Unlike some of the tricks—drinking water upside down or holding your breath till they pass—you’ll need real weapons to get through them.  Just as Ephesians 6 instructs, learn how to apply truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation to your life, meditate on God’s Word, and be continuously in prayer.  Only then will you be able to stand through your hiccups.

Father, help us to remember that hiccups are only temporary and with the weapons You have entrusted to us, we can make our way through them.  Help us to remember to turn to You, as we are up against far more than we can handle on our own.  In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

© Heather Potts 2014