He Can pt. 2

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

Too Good to Not Believe ~ Cody Carnes

 

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” ~ 2 Kings 6:16 NIVUK

 

I love how 2 Kings 6 sets the stage for God to move in your life, as it relays two stories where people faced overwhelming and seemingly impossible scenarios. In the first story, an iron axe-head fell hopelessly to the bottom of the Jordan River, (v.5). And in the second, horses, chariots, and a strong force surrounded the city, (vv.14-15). In both instances, someone panicked. Wouldn’t you?

 

However, panic is just the outward appearance of the underlying doubt that’s crept into our minds. When I was 11, I doubted God answered prayers, because my present circumstance wasn’t turning out the way I prayed it would, tainting my trust in God. At the time, my parents had recently divorced (though I wanted them to remarry), and my young and hurting mind couldn’t accept that the God of the past—who’d performed miracles—was the same in the present and the future.

 

But just as God “showed up” to help an axe-borrower and a panicked servant, He showed up in my life, too. God caused the axe-head to float, allowing the borrower to retrieve it. He opened the servant’s eyes to see the hills full of horses and chariots of fire, all of which were on the servant’s side. And He allowed me, at 19-years-old, to realize that what I’d needed all along was Him.

 

Over the years, I’ve seen God move mightily. I’ve known 3 couples who divorced, surrendered their hearts to Jesus, and then recommitted to, and remarried, their spouses. I’ve experienced my own healings and have known others to be healed. I’ve seen addicts turn from smoking, drugs, and pornography after they prayed, and never turn back. I’ve seen the hopeless find hope, dead marriages thrive, and money literally show up in the mail when it was most needed. In each circumstance, though the miracle sparked the hope, it was the Miracle Worker who walked each person through their hard times to victory.

 

If you’re struggling with doubt because God hasn’t come through how or when you wanted, don’t panic. As the prophet said, “Those who are with us” [God and His angel armies] “are more than those who are with them” [the enemy]. God is with you. And though your miracle might be to change your heart and not your circumstance, He is still the faithful God who can do the impossible and will always be with you.

©Heather Potts 2022

Called to Stand

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xU771D5AYWE

Holy Ground ~ Passion ft. Melodie Malone 

Who is this King of glory?

    The Lord strong and mighty,

    the Lord mighty in battle.

~ Psalm 24:8 NIV

In the 2002 movie Signs, after crop circles appeared on the farmer’s land, his kids started reading about aliens. Then, one day, the farmer found his kids and brother-in-law watching the news with aluminum foil on their heads, so that the aliens couldn’t read their thoughts. We laugh at the aluminum foil scene, but honestly, with all the extremes on the news these days, there are people in both camp extremes: some with their heads in the sand and some already wearing aluminum foil. Fear can be a great motivator; but more often than not, fear is the greatest paralyzer, holding you as a powerless prisoner to what might happen. 

What if it didn’t have to - what if there was another choice besides head-in-sand and aluminum-foil-on-head? Fear only has power when it has your attention. What if you cut off its power supply by shifting your focus? 

Prime Time with God: Reflecting on the Names and Nature of God is a devotional I read. The title from the other day was, “The Lord Mighty in Battle,” from Psalm 24:8. It was the prayer at the end that really hit me between the eyes. It said, “Lord, I’ll not look at the strength of the Enemy; I’ll look to Your might.” I was shocked by the revelation that I had been focusing on the strength of the enemy, instead of power and might of my God. That revelation was my wake-up call to pull off the aluminum foil, lift my head from the sand, and STAND! 

We are a people called to STAND. Not cower, not crumble: we’re called to dress in holy armor and then stand. The enemy will come against God’s people and he will bring a mighty force. But when we’re not distracted by the enemy’s strength, when we’re focusing on God’s power and might, regardless of what the enemy brings and flashes in front of us, we’ll be able to stand.

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ~ Ephesians 6:13 NIV

©Heather Potts 2021

In the Trenches

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9moCqVAF2ak

Ghost ~ Crowder

Have you ever been in the valleys of life? 

What about in the trenches?

Life seemed to be going along like normal, maybe you sensed things were slightly off, but before you had a chance to react, the earth started to tremble and down you went from the hillside and into the valley. But your quick shot down didn’t end there. Before you could even get your bearings, the valley floor opened and you fell through a crack. When you carefully, cautiously stood, you looked around and found yourself in the trenches in the middle of a war zone. You weren’t sure who was flinging bombs at you, but you knew enough to duck. In your crouched position, fear began to waft into the trench with you, like the smell of death. It was death to the life you thought you knew, felt that you’d had, giving way to this new reality in an ugly, scary battle scene where hope has faded to gray and you feel all alone.

Sadly, this is reality for some of the people I care about deeply. Without much warning, life shattered and they awoke to this new, hurtful reality. First it only breaks the heart. But then, it messes with the mind. Hurt and fear set in when the mind asks if the life and relationships you thought you had were all just a lie. Hurt and fear give way to anger when you believe the question as truth: it was all a lie!

Though the trenches look bleak and gray, hope begins to grow when Light is spotted. It may look like it’s coming from an encouraging post on social media, or a card from a friend. And though He’ll use resources like your therapist, your pastor, and even prayer warrior friends, there’s only one Light Source. His Name is Jesus.

If you are on the outside, watching a loved one struggle through trench warfare, commit to standing with them in prayer. This is likely to not be a short season, but God allowed you this unique position in their life to partner with them in prayer and, at times, to cover over them in a blanket of prayer-protection. This may not be trench warfare like your great-grandfather faced, but it’s spiritual warfare, which means the stakes are higher and the injuries more costly.

If you’re in the trenches, then suit up! This is likely to be the greatest battle you’ve ever fought. The devil fights to the death and he’s out for blood! But you are not without protection and you’re not without hope. Get your spiritual armor on; hold up your shield and swing your sword. Pull God’s Word close to you and dig into His promises like your life depends on it. His Word will become your greatest weapon and resource till this battle is won, and then will be the launch pad from which your new season will begin.

Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. ~ Ephesians 6:11-13 NIV

©Heather Potts 2021

My Strength & Song

 

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

Strength ~ Melissa Helser & Cageless Birds | 18 Inch Journey Live Worship Moment

 

Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation. ~ Isaiah 12:2 NASB1995

 

On Thursday evening, I received word that my dear friend, Andrea, who’s been battling cancer off and on for over a decade, had seizures again last week. The doctors said they’ve done everything they can for her and feel her body is just tired of fighting, so hospice has been called. I will not lie; the news came as a blow and shock. Regardless of how bad things have looked, God’s always stepped in, in mighty ways. But hearing that they were giving up left me struggling for words. Nevertheless, I went to God and He reminded me to trust and not be afraid, because He is my strength and song.

 

Why am I telling you this and sharing her story? Because we’re all battling something, and we need the reminder that there is hope and help. Regardless of the battle, the solution is the same: Jesus!

 

Isaiah 12:2 says the Lord is our strength, which reminds me of a young child dancing on her daddy’s feet. You are that young child, invited to stand on your Daddy’s feet. We are called, not to stand in our own strength, but to take each step in His! The verse also says that He is our song. There are numerous scriptures of singing praises to God. The one that stands out the most to me is Psalm 149:6-9, which says that praising God takes the chains off you and puts them around the enemy. The imagery reminds me of a story Joyce Meyer told, in Battlefield of the Mind, of a man who’d been sick for many years. He’d been praying to God for healing, but was about to give up, because he was still sick. Then God gave him a vision, showing that a messenger of Satan was sent to speak lies to the man. But when the man spoke the Word of God, a sword and a flame came out of the man’s mouth to attack the messenger.

 

There is power in our praising and strength in our God! Father, I ask that You would continue to strengthen us. Lord, I pray for healing for Andrea and all of us. Lord, as Jesus sent out all doubters from the house before he healed the girl who was thought to be dead, we banish all doubt from our minds and our homes! Let only praise be heard in our houses and on our lips. Father, I thank you that You are our strength and our song, and we will win our battles in You! In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen!

©Heather Potts 2020

HIS Side

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wPE7PYdXuc&list=RD6wPE7PYdXuc&start_radio=1&t=75

I Won’t Let You Go ~ Switchfoot featuring Lauren Daigle

The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. ~ Psalm 23:1 NIV

Last night, I dreamt I tried to call some friends, but used a payphone instead of my cell. With each misdial and failed attempt, I grew angrier. When I finally reached them, they asked how I was doing. I said I was overwhelmed but given some time in worship and in God’s presence, I’d have a whole new perspective.

The world is full of distractions and the devil loves to use each one to draw us further away from intimacy with God. Just as he did with Eve in Genesis 3, the devil plants seeds of doubt in our minds telling us that God is holding out on us and He cannot be trusted. Doubting God’s faithfulness is the root of fear and anxiety. The more fearful and anxious we are, the more we find ourselves grasping for facts that aren’t typically Truths.

Fact: Protests and mayhem are happening in several cities across the country.

TRUTH: You have been a shelter for me, a strong tower from the enemy…I will trust in the shelter of Your wings. ~ Psalm 61:3-4 NKJV

Fact: There’s been talk, in some cities, of dismantling local law enforcement.

TRUTH: …Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, by the greatness of His might and the strength of His power; Not one is missing… The everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. ~ Isaiah 40:26-29 NKJV

Regardless of what’s going on in the world, we can get overwhelmed, scared, and anxious if we focus on it too long. But when we draw away with Father God for a while, we get a whole new perspective on things. It doesn’t make the bad things better, but allows us the opportunity to rest in Him, as we allow Him to draw us to His side.

©Heather Potts 2020