Undeserved

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91hHw1YPqxE

Communion ~ (feat. Steffany Gretzinger & Brandon Lake) Maverick City

 

For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, ~ 1 Corinthians 11:23 NIV

 

As I stood before the Table, this was the first time I’d had a hard time approaching and partaking. As I stood there, staring at the Elements, I heard Holy Spirit say, “You are under the impression that you’ve ever deserved this. It’s always been undeserved.” The word undeserved hung in the air. It wrapped all around me and sat on me. But it wasn’t heavy. Quite the contrary, it was entirely freeing.

 

un·de·served. Un- meaning, “not,” and -ed indicating past tense, left only deserve. What I discovered helped me understand why it was so freeing. De- is a preposition, meaning, “from…out of,” and finally, serve comes from Middle English, Old French, and Latin, all words being equivalent to “slave,” (dictionary.com). Undeserved, therefore, is not-from-slavery. It can’t be earned. That’s what makes it grace.

 

Though I was welcome at the Lord’s Table, as His Bride, from the first time I put my faith and trust in Him, it was 15 years ago that I heard Him call me there. In 2007, I was suffering from pain, and it wasn’t getting better. One morning at church, I received prayer for healing. During the prayer, Holy Spirit spoke to me about receiving healing from the Lord’s Table. He said, “When you take the Bread, see My flesh bonding with your flesh, healing your flesh. When you take the Cup, see My blood flowing through your blood, washing away every sickness and disease.” It’s been 15 years, and His words have never left me. Though I am not always good at utilizing this beautiful and precious gift, I’ve never, before, hesitated to eat at His Table.

 

Prior to now, any pain or sickness I’d experienced was something that happened to me, not due to my own stupidity. And that’s how the devil got me. It was easier to believe the lie that previous times of healing were “deserved” because they weren’t my own fault. This time, however, I didn’t deserve healing, nor to even ask for it, because I’d made a dumb choice. That’s when the Lord stepped in and called me back to His Table. Standing there, staring at the Elements, a few words from the Lord, and everything changed.

 

It's not deserved. It can’t be earned. And that is what makes it grace.

©Heather Potts 2022

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

By Faith in the Name

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjPKfQ7fMoM

I Choose to Worship ~ Rend Collective

By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see. ~ Acts 3:16 NIV

Cancer. Yesterday, a relative received the news that this evil word has infected his body.

Cancer. 1a. A malignant and invasive growth or tumor… 2. Any evil condition or thing that spreads destructively; blight, (dictionary.com). 

How does anyone overcome this evil word? The same way we overcome every other sickness and disease: Pray. Seek wisdom and guidance. Walk in faith. Worship and praise God. Possibly make some lifestyle changes. Then wait with expectation.

But those who wait for the Lord [who expect, look for, and hope in Him] will gain new strength and renew their power… They will run and not become weary, They will walk and not grow tired. ~ Isaiah 40:31 AMP

Expectation. Something you look forward to and assume will happen. When you’re waiting on the Lord, you’re looking to Him with great expectation, as you believe He will move! I love Jesus’ words to Father God when He was standing outside of Lazarus’ tomb. “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me…” (John 11:41-42 NIV). If we are co-heirs with Christ, can’t we also know that Father God will hear our prayers?

There’s a story that Graham Cooke tells about a woman with an inoperable tumor who wants a word from the Lord. Knowing that Graham has the gift of prophecy, she sought him for an answer. Graham said that God didn’t give him anything for her, but said she should seek God in this matter, then worship until she hears from God. He said that the responsibility is on God to speak, not on her to hear, but to keep worshipping until God speaks. Peter and John also said the responsibility is on God and no one else. 

A man, whom scriptures say was crippled from birth, was begging from those entering the temple each day. When he saw Peter and John, he asked them for money. They said, “Look at us!” The man looked with expectation. “Then Peter said, ‘Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk,’” (Acts 3:1-6 NIV). It wasn’t money, luck, or even Peter or John who healed the man. We’re all healed the same way: “By faith in the name of Jesus...It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed [us].”

Whatever is coming against you or your family, don’t let it knock you down one more day. Come against it in the Name that is above every name, even cancer: the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth who came in the Flesh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9plwKOkbf1I

God speaks to the lady with cancer ~ Graham Cooke

©Heather Potts 2021

Cling to Your Life Preserver

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KRRCQ9bcAc

Made to Fly ~ Colton Dixon

“Do not let your heart be troubled (afraid, cowardly). Believe [confidently] in God and trust in Him, [have faith, hold on to it, rely on it, keep going and] believe also in Me.” ~ John 14:1 AMP

Have you ever been in one of those seasons where wave after wave attacking you caused you to turn your gaze from Jesus, and inevitably, your grip, as well? And when that happened, the next wave made you believe you were going to drown. I’ll confess that happened to me.

Our summer break hasn’t started as relaxing as I would have liked. Within the first two weeks we needed a major fix on both vehicles, and then my back locked up while we were camping. Then, just after God brought us through that (including healing my back--Praise God!), the girls got burned. At first we assumed it was a sunburn, but 48 hours later, it appeared more like a chemical burn, causing me to feel completely helpless and overwhelmed. Thankfully, after getting some outside help, it’s calmed down a lot and is almost gone. Honestly, though, the attack on the girls scared me. I felt helpless when I didn’t know how to “make it better”. By the end of the day, yesterday, I realized just how drained I was and how cranky I was acting towards others.

Fortunately, God wasn’t bothered by my crankiness, and led me to John 14:1. After just glancing at the words, I realized that I’d let trouble into my heart, but it was time for it to go!

When going boating, you put on a life preserver, because if the unexpected ever happened, you’d be prepared. Ephesians 6:13-15 tells us to put on our spiritual armor, because we’re in a spiritual battle. Though the breastplate of righteousness and shield of faith sound like they’d drag you to the bottom, they become the straps, binding you to Jesus, your Life Preserver. The next time you’re being beaten by a churning sea, don’t let go of your Life Preserver to try to swim to shore faster. Instead, lean into it, letting the Lord use the waves to push you to shore, as you keep clinging to your Life Preserver, never shifting your gaze or releasing your grip.

©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

Breathe. Remember.

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

Never Lost ~ Elevation Worship

O God, when You went forth before Your people, when You marched through the wilderness–Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]! ~ Psalm 68:7 AMPC

Has hard news ever slammed into you? How did you overcome the overwhelming feelings?

Over the past few days, Psalm 68:7 was the focus of my reading. It was as though Holy Spirit wouldn't let me read past that verse, though I didn't know why. Was there a lesson I needed to realize? Saturday night, I received the answer when we heard upsetting news about a loved one. At first, I blew off the emotions. Later, however, my emotions felt like a pool about to burst and I cried. 

After my tears, however, I took a breath, and I began remembering all the times and trials the Lord brought us through to victory. Why did this have to be any different? The truth is, it's not. God is no respecter of persons. What He did for one, He'll do for another, including healing and protection!

What are you facing, already this year? I'm sure the enemy hasn't wasted any time telling you to be afraid. Today, instead of looking at what might happen, consider a new tactic. David said, "Come and hear, all you who reverently and worshipfully fear God, and I will declare what He has done for me!" (Psalm 66:16 AMPC). Now is the time to remind yourself of all the times God has helped you overcome. Recall the victories He's brought forth in your life. Remember the times He went to battle for, walked ahead of, and marched into the wilderness for you.  

Today, don't focus on the news. Instead, breathe deeply and remember the goodness and faithfulness of God, who loves you!

Heather Potts 2020

I Cried in Church

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxhY9-oMVRc

Here in the Presence ~ Elevation Worship

Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ~ John 4:23 NIV

Crying is an act of vulnerability; it opens your heart to love and intimacy.

Last Sunday was like many others: I expected God to speak to me, but I didn't expect Him to touch my heart. Pastor Dave's sermon, though always good, was bolder and more urgent than usual. He spoke about how the Pharisees knew Jesus was giving them a warning, but still they hardened their hearts and turned from Him. Pastor Dave prayed that God would show us where we'd begun hardening our hearts and that we'd allow God to soften them, again.

After prayer, the worship team played, "Here in the Presence." I don't know at what point God touched my heart—the spot of pain that I'd tried to cover up—but a tear trickled down. It was followed by another and another until all I could do was cry. I realized that I'd tried to swallow some pain and disappointment. I hadn't shared it with anyone, not even Jesus. He didn't want that area of my heart to grow hard, so Jesus touched me. Through my tears, I apologized for not sharing my pain with Him, for trying to handle it on my own. He forgave me and healed my heart. In place of the pain was relief, because I didn't have to carry it and I wasn't alone.

If there's pain or disappointment—past or present—that you've been carrying, or trying to hide, it's time to give it to Jesus.  Allow Him to touch your heart and heal you. And remember, it's OK to cry, even—or especially—in church.

When was the last time God touched your heart?

©Heather Potts 2019

HOME

When Jesus returned to Capernaum several days later, the news spread quickly that he was back home. ~ Mark 2:1 NLT

We’re currently on vacation staying with my brother and his family. And although I had good intentions, being away has gotten me out of routine, which can more easily steal my peace. But Holy Spirit reminded me that the place is not my problem.

At church on Sunday, the pastor taught on Mark 2:1-11. He said Jesus, having been out beginning His ministry, had just returned home. In this passage, a paralytic was lowered through the roof to be healed by Jesus. Jesus healed him first emotionally and then physically. At that time, the man’s family, not strangers, should have cared for him. But likely due to his illness, his family left him to fend for himself. When Jesus called the man, “My child,” (v 5), as a parent would call a son or daughter, Jesus gave the man a home, a place of belonging.

Home is a place of:

·   Healing. When you’re not feeling like yourself, you want to be in your space with its comforting feels and smells.

·   Oneness. While away, it’s easy to get distracted by others’ routines and mannerisms. Though there’s nothing wrong with them, you run the risk of losing the one-mindedness of your family unit. Home allows you to reconnect and realign your thinking.

·   Meditation. The reason people often “need a vacation from their vacation” is because they fail to slow down, take a deep breath, and keep their peace.

·   Escape. We can all feel that we need to “get away” to escape life’s demands. But home is meant to be a place of escape, a refuge from craziness and storms.

I realized on Sunday, that I’ve been struggling to feel “at home.” But Holy Spirit reminded me that it’s not about a street address. No matter where I am, my home is in Him.

Regardless of what’s going on in your life and where God has you. Remember that He always has you and that your home is found in Him.

©Heather Potts 2017

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