Stand at the Ready

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oQmmS7HbhkE

Stand ~ Newsboys

 

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

 

This morning, the Lord woke me, first to pray for my own children, then for all children. The theme throughout the prayer was that they would stand:

Stand for the Truth.

Stand on the Truth.

Stand up for each other.

Stand up for righteousness.

Stand up in prayer, humbling themselves only unto the Lord.

Stand firm.

The Lord closed out the prayer by saying, “Let them put on their Armor and Stand at the Ready.” As I pondered, “stand at the ready,” Ephesians 6:13 immediately came to mind. The final word, “stand” means, “to stand ready or prepared,” as well as to be “one who in the midst of the fight hold his position,” (G2476 - Histēmi - Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV), n.d.).

 

It’s no coincidence that today is the National Day of Prayer. Today, as you’re praying for our nation and leaders, please also pray for our children. Pray for their protection and the covering of Holy Spirit. Pray that they’d be given a Spirit of wisdom and of revelation. Pray that they’d not be swayed by their peers or by evildoers, but that they’d cling to what is good in God, alone. Pray they’d be godly leaders, following only after Christ. But above all, pray that they’d stand.

 

Father, we lift up all children to You, today. Anoint them with Your Spirit. Help them to stand strong, stand firm, and to stand their ground. Help them to draw a line in the sand and put the devil “on notice,” not allowing him to take any more ground. Then, Lord, sound the charge! Call them to fight for others until they are freed to stand in Your victory! Father, I pray that today would be a game-changer, and that we’d recall this day as the day You called us to Stand at the Ready!

I pray all these things in the mighty Name of Jesus! Amen.

~Heather Potts

*It’s not copyrighted. Please share! Please pray!

Keep Standing pt. 2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Gs3fg_WsEg&list=RD_Gs3fg_WsEg&start_radio=1

Dancing in the Minefields ~ Andrew Peterson

 

Then she came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, help me!” ~ Matthew 15:25 NKJV

 

I am equally blessed and amazed that God has walked us through 18 years of marriage. I remember when I wasn’t sure that we’d survive the first 5 years. Neither the world nor our church set us up for success. Though our church wasn’t purposefully setting us up for failure, our premarital counseling went something like this, “You want to get married? Great!” There was no talk about covenant or roles or anything. We were left to figure it out on our own, which caused us both to fail, a lot! Thankfully, God walked us through many seasons—both painful valleys and refreshing mountain-top victories. It’s been in the hard seasons, especially, that we’ve had to rely on Jesus and the covenant promise we made with Him.

 

We really struggled in the infant/toddler years of our marriage. One day, as I was walking and praying, I literally cried out to God, “I will have nothing less than Your very best for me and this marriage!” Was I bold in saying it? Yes! Was I off-base in expecting it from God? No!

 

Matthew 15:22-28 tells the story of a woman who did the same thing. At first, Jesus didn’t respond to the woman’s request to heal her daughter. He even called the woman a dog, (v.26). But even that didn’t cause her to quit. In fact, it was her faith and perseverance that caused Jesus to respond to her. The woman refused to quit! She refused to accept anything less than healing for her daughter and she knew that Jesus could do it. Because of her perseverance Jesus said, “’Woman, great is your faith! Be it done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was cured from that moment,” (v.28). Even now, I am encouraged and humbled to pray with the woman’s boldness.

 

Sadly, over the past 15 years, the divorce rate has remained at about 50%, with most divorces happening either within the first 10 years, or years later, when the adults become empty-nesters. Remember, it’s not the length of our marriage or having children living at home that determines the success of our marriage. It’s our determination to stand, and keep standing, on our vows.

 

Whether your marriage is in a good, solid season, or has hit some dips and valleys, I encourage you to pray for your marriage and refuse to quit until Jesus answers you. Lord, protect our marriages. Keep us bold in praying for our marriages and families. In Jesus’ Name we pray, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2022

Don't Get Caught Sleeping

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ndb7kein1Es

God, Turn it Around ~ feat. Jon Reddick | Church of the City

 

If he comes suddenly, do not let him find you sleeping. ~ Mark 13:36 NIVUK

 

Lately, I’ve been feeling an urgency, a pressing, from Holy Spirit for God’s people. This urgency includes sharing Jesus with those who don’t yet know Him, covering our kids—those in our sphere of influence—and praying for the protection of their identity in Christ, and more recently, it also includes waking up the sleeping church.

 

While researching, I was led to Mark 13:33-37, in which Jesus tells His to keep watch, because no one knows the day or hours of the return of the Son of Man. Jesus said, “It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch,” (v. 34 NKJV). Bible commentator David Guzik said Jesus left us three things: (1) His house—His Church; (2) His authority; (3) His work—work assigned to each servant to complete, not doing the work of others, but each completing his own task.

 

A sleeping servant, therefore, has not been caring for or protecting his Master’s house from thieves or looters. He’s failed to act in the authority left to him, and he hasn’t completed his assigned tasks. Not only does a sleeping servant miss out on the promotions and blessings of a watchful servant, but he’s left knowing he failed his Master.

 

The image of the sleeping servant vs. the watchful servant reminded me of something I heard our leadership say at our previous church. It was classified as a “mega church” and when it was quickly growing, someone said that though the front door was wide-open, the back door was also cracked. This “watchful servant” didn’t want others to “fall asleep,” thinking that just because their numbers were growing each week that their work was done. He noted that there was a disconnect in their mission if people were sneaking out the back door.

 

The same is true regarding our marriages, children, and families. We can’t afford to assume that once they are saved, or once they are strong, that our work is done. We can’t get lazy and fall asleep. There’s too much at stake! The enemy is patient and he’s watching, waiting for you to nod off so that he can slip in and steal your treasures. Because he’s cunning and deceptive, he’ll slowly pull them from you. Maybe he’ll start with stealing their respect for you, destroying a bit of your authority. As you continue to drift off to sleep, He’ll weasel into their thoughts and get them to question their identity, value, and worth. A few more naps are all it’ll take for him to steal all your treasure—the people you love—and get you to wonder, “How did that happen?"

 

Church, friends, don’t get caught sleeping. Jesus said, “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:37 NIVUK).

©Heather Potts 2022

Dream Job

Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him. ~ Psalm 127:3 NLT

The other day I was struggling. Both girls were having constant meltdowns all day. I remember how drained I felt at the end of the day. And the next morning, as I was praying over the day, God reminded me not to go into the day with frustration and low expectations, but to remember that I was living someone’s dream job: mine.

When I became pregnant with Savannah, Brad and I talked about our plans, and how I would be the one staying home and everything would be perfect. Well, not only was it not perfect, it wasn’t how we imagined. For moral and ethical reasons, Brad had left his job and was without work when Savannah was born, so he stayed home and I remained working. It was awful! We were both frustrated and wanted what the other had. I mortified to hear that instead of holding our precious love every second of every day, he’d found a way to prop up her bottle so she could feed herself. Instead of being at home with my little love, I was stuck at work with a bunch of adults who acted like children, only worsening how I felt. God had a lot of work to do in both of our hearts—and praise God, He did! When Elizabeth was born, I was able to come home because Brad had a good job. And honestly, it wasn’t too long before I was trying to figure out how to prop up Elizabeth’s bottle so I could eat or go to the bathroom. I suddenly realized that my husband was a genius!

We’re so funny. We look at people—what they have and what we want—and think, “My life would be better if…” Sometimes God opens those doors and allows us our hearts’ desires. But when the going gets tough, it’s easy to slip into a “My life would be better if” mentality. That’s when we need to buckle down, pray for grace for the moment, thank Him for the blessing and that He’s allowed us to walk through this door.

©Heather Potts 2016

Yet Examplify

We’re not keeping this to ourselves,
    we’re passing it along to the next generation—
God’s fame and fortune,
    the marvelous things he has done.

~ Psalm 78:4 MSG

“Play my church song.” That’s Savannah’s constant request whenever we’re playing music, even if she’s just heard “Not Ashamed” 5 times in a row. She loves her worship music! And the more “bounce” it has to it, the better. What better way to praise God than in the company of your kids? I can honestly say, it wipes away all the frustrations from the day’s battles when I watch my girls worship God. And it’s not even the high-powered worship sessions, it’s also the tender moments when she asks at dinner or before bed, “Can I pray?” Absolutely! Yes, you can pray! But her next question is always, “How do I pray?” And isn’t that what we’re teaching the next generation: how to walk closely and intimately with Father God in all the ways that we have, and even more?

My girls want to pray, dance before God, sing worship songs, and read the Bible. Why? Because it’s what they see their parents doing. Whether it’s our own kids, kids at church, or those in the neighborhood, the next generation is looking for someone to lead them. Psalm 78:5-7 teaches us what to do and why:

He planted a witness in Jacob,
    set his Word firmly in Israel,
Then commanded our parents
    to teach it to their children
So the next generation would know,
    and all the generations to come—
Know the truth and tell the stories
    so their children can trust in God,
Never forget the works of God
    but keep his commands to the letter.

With our actions, with our words, and by our example, what are we teaching the next generation? We’ve been commanded to teach them the truth about God. Let’s determine we’ll yet exemplify Him.

©Heather Potts 2016

Threat Terminated

So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. ~ Ruth 4:13 NASB

Did you ever consider that the attacks against you aren’t about you at all?

The enemy knew what Ruth’s descendants were called to, so he positioned his attack against Ruth. Ruth was a Moabitess and he assumed if he could take away everything, she’d crumble and go back to what was familiar. But the hand of God was strong on her and even when her mother-in-law begged Ruth to leave, Ruth refused. Naomi, Ruth’s mother-in-law, became bitter when her husband and both of her sons died. In her despair, Naomi felt it would be better to be alone, but Ruth wouldn’t leave. Ruth’s decision would forever change her life and the lives of countless others.

Last August, God told me to attend our church’s weekly morning prayer meetings, where we pray over our community.  At one of the meetings, God gave me a vision of our children—not just my girls, but the whole community of children who are currently being raised up—reaching out to, loving on, caring for, encouraging, healing, and helping those who were lost, hurting, and in need of a Savior. Then Holy Spirit said to me, “It starts with you.” He said my girls have a calling on their lives, but their journey will be strengthened as my marriage and walk with God are strengthened.

The next generation needs us to fight the fight before them, pray for them, and cling to God and His calling for our lives. If Ruth had not stuck with Naomi, had not gone to work in Boaz’s field, she and Boaz would not have met, married, and become great-grandparents to David… The enemy knows God’s plans for our lives and it makes him afraid. So he hunts, attacks, wounds, and keeps coming after us all in an attempt to keep us and future generations from fulfilling God’s plan.

If you are under fire and it feels like the hits just keep coming, one after another, declare as David did: “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You. In God, whose word I praise, in God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me,” (Psalm 56:3-4 NASB).

©Heather Potts 2016 

Just Like You

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ~ Matthew 19:14 NIV

Our Elizabeth wants to do everything her big sister does, so she’s already started potty-training.  Because she’s watched her sister do the routine enough times, Elizabeth knows every step. She loves to wear “love socks” just like her big sister, as well as her sister’s shoes.

Our Savannah is much more of a processer than her sister—very much like her daddy. When she enters a new situation, Savannah concentrates on it a long time, often watching others to learn how to do it. But sometimes, she comes up with her own creative solution, like when she was learning to stand, she would often use her mouth as a “third hand.”  

One day, Savannah said to me, “I want to be like you.” That’s both mind-blowing and attention-grabbing. What does she see when she sees me? What am I demonstrating? Who am I exemplifying for her?

Jesus said to let the little children come to Him. Just as our children want to be like us, we are to be like little children, observing and then replicating what Jesus does, in our thoughts, words, and actions.

Father, help me to keep my eyes fixed on Jesus, so that not only I, but my girls also, will become more and more like Him. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2016

Obvious

I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened… ~ Ephesians 1:17-18 NIV

Likely you’ve seen the “memories” feature on Facebook of posts and pictures from years past.  On January 6, 2014 I’d made the comment that we were about to see our first pictures of baby Caleb… For years, I didn’t want kids because I didn’t want my kids to relive my childhood.  But then in 2010, God spoke to Brad and said we were going to have a son and we were to name him Caleb.  After we had Savannah, we naturally assumed the next pregnancy meant Caleb was “on the way.” But when we were in the ultrasound, something was missing…and the ultrasound tech had to point out the obvious three times to assure me it was, in fact, a girl.

I was distraught.  I had been so certain we were having Caleb…

We drove to our girls’ godparents’ house, as they were eagerly awaiting the pictures and the report. Nichole gave me a hug and said, “She’s beautiful.” Sean, seeing that I was upset, said, “It was always a girl. God didn’t just change the baby to a girl today.” And there it was. It was so obvious but I’d missed it. But I wouldn’t miss it again! When we got home that night, I prayed and asked God to tell me all about my little girl, her name and who He had called her to be. My faithful Father said her name is Elizabeth, which means “fullness or abundance of God.” And our lives have been forever blessed by our Elizabeth Joy!

What are the obvious things—the blessings—that you’ve been missing and losing sight of because you’ve been consumed by other things? Pray for the Spirit of wisdom and discernment, that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened and you would see all that He wants to show you.

©Heather Potts 2016

Embraced

Awake, awake, arm of the Lord, clothe yourself with strength! ~ Isaiah 51:9 NIV

The other morning, I was snuggling with my Elizabeth.  She’d thrown up and wanted to be held, comforted by my embrace. When we’re feeling out of sorts, don’t we just want to be comforted by Him who loves us?  But how does Father God hold us?

His Arms provide strength, might, power, help and aid. The islands look to me and wait in hope for my arm, (Isaiah 51:5 NIV).

His Hands provide power, means, and direction. You shall also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God, (Isaiah 62:3 NKJV).

In His Palm is power and a place one submits himself to seek security and safety. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me, (Isaiah 49:16 NKJV).

His Bosom is a place of embrace and of acceptance. He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, (Isaiah 40:11 NKJV).

With His Face, He turns toward us, regarding us, both hearing and answering. And I will never again turn my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit upon the people of Israel. I, the Sovereign LORD, have spoken! (Ezekiel 39:29 NLT)

Just as parents hold their babies, our Father holds us. Held in His lap, we are accepted just as we are. We are loved and embraced by our Father who will never drop, leave, or forsake us.  He will give us strength and help us; He will hold us steady and keep a firm grip on us, (Isaiah 41:9-10). We are God’s sons and daughters, held in His embrace, carried close to His heart, (Isaiah 40:11). When Father looks at us, He smiles. And sometimes He tickles us, just to enjoy the sound of our laughter. We are safe, secure, and forever held in our Father’s loving embrace.

©Heather Potts 2016