Over a Salad?

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuS9T3yXPWo

I Will Not Be Moved ~ Natalie Grant

 

When the Philistine rose and came forward to meet David, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet the Philistine. ~ 1 Samuel 17:48 AMP

 

One of my favorite Christian speakers is Graham Cooke. He told the story of how he and his wife knew God was calling them to move but didn’t know where. They visited several cities, but none was right. Then, when stopping over for lunch in Santa Barbara, California, Graham got a “warfare” headache. Knowing it wasn’t a migraine, he addressed the devil directly: “Seriously? You’re attacking me over a salad on State Street? What are you so afraid of that you’re attacking me over a salad?” As weird as that may sound, has it ever happened to you?

 

Yesterday was a bit rough for me. Not awful, but it definitely caught me off-guard. Toward the end of the day, Brad texted and asked if we were going to life group, as there were complications with going. At first, I said we would stay home, but as soon as I said it, I felt a difference in my spirit and knew it was the wrong call. So, I decided we’d go, because I could tell the enemy didn’t want me to and I was curious as to why.

 

1 Samuel 17 tells the story of David and Goliath. The Israelites, upon seeing Goliath and hearing his threats, were terrified and lost all hope. But God sent a warrior who would rise up against this against this enemy and defeat him. Though Saul and the rest of the Israelite soldiers doubted, David said he wasn’t afraid. Then, after declaring the promise of the Lord’s deliverance over the Philistines, Goliath advanced toward David to strike him down. But David did the unexpected: He ran out to meet him.

 

I don’t know what struggles you are facing or what things are trying to hold you back, but instead of giving up, let’s run out to meet them and find out why the devil is working so hard to get us to quit. My guess is, it has little to do with you, personally, and much more to do with those God wants to reach through you.

©Heather Potts 2021

Victory

https://youtu.be/yhyVW6sbZeA

Breakthrough ~ Red Rocks Worship 

But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. ~ 1 Corinthians 15:57 NIV

Your victory is dependent upon your struggle or need. If the need is freedom from some type of slavery, then victory means liberation, being rescued. If your struggle is using overeating or overspending to compensate for your brokenness, using them as coping mechanisms, then your victory might look like healthy spending and eating habits. If your bondage is medical, then your victory might look like a clear scan or good doctor's report.

We all have battles and struggles. Jesus told us that we would have trouble: pressure, oppression, affliction, tribulation, and distress. But He gave us hope, saying, "Take heart! I have overcome the world! For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God, (John 16:33; 1 John 5:4-5 NLT).

Perhaps it feels strange to talk about battles so closely to Christmas. The truth is, the enemy is relentless in his attacks, stopping at and for nothing to destroy your life. He will use everything to his advantage, especially the celebration of Christ's birth. Unfortunately, many people fall into despair during the holidays, believing the lie that they are alone, or worthless, having failed to achieve some goal.

God is mightier than any lie. YOU ARE WORTHY because He made you worthy. You are His and He paid the ultimate price for you, His beloved.

Today, believe that you have the victory in Christ Jesus! He gave you the victory--over sin, over sickness, over addiction, over bondage and brokenness, over depression and anxiety, and over every single lie the enemy has poured on you. It's time to stand up in victory! Let today be the day you begin claiming the victory that is yours in Christ Jesus, our Lord. 

©Heather Potts 2019

Concealed

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter,

But the glory of kings is to search out a matter.

~ Proverbs 25:2 NKJV

When I worked for the newspaper, my boss sent me to an Excel class because she needed me to learn pivot tables. When the teacher asked us what we wanted to learn, he seemed annoyed with my “pivot tables” answer and said the correct answer was to learn what we didn’t know.

A lot of things feel hard right now: after so many interviews (that I’ve lost count), Brad still only has a part-time, temporary job; Savannah is struggling (again); tensions are high; we’re trying to make friends, lay down roots, and figure out where we fit and why we’re here. I was expressing my frustrations to one of my friends and she said, “Sometimes we just go through crappy seasons. I just hope we don’t run out of toilet paper.” Though the TP may run out, God’s grace never will.

Standing in His grace-covering, we’ve decided to take a stand and make a change. We’re asking for help. We’re seeking wise, godly counsel, just as God says to do:

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking, (James 1:5 NLT)

Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known, (Jeremiah 33:3 ESV)

And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. I will be found by you, says the LORD… (Jeremiah 29:13-14 NKJV)

The enemy lies and says that we’re weak when we cannot stand on our own. But God says, “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding…Be not wise in your own eyes,” (Proverbs 3:5, 7 ESV). The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over expecting different results. Instead of living in the craziness—in insanity—we’re going to walk in wisdom, honor, and glory, as we seek out the hidden, concealed, and unsearchable things.

If you’re going through a “crappy season,” don’t wait for the TP to run out; make a change. Determine to humble yourself before Father God and ask Him to lead, guide, and direct you in His infinite wisdom. And keep seeking until He reveals the hidden things to you.

©Heather Potts 2017