Propelled

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8YttNdAmyyI

Worlds Apart ~ Jars of Clay

 

Enlarge the place of your tent,
    stretch your tent curtains wide,
    do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
    strengthen your stakes.

~ Isaiah 54:2 NIV

 

Have you ever experienced a time when, either during worship or prayer, you prayed a heartfelt cry to God having something to do with making a change? Then afterward, you realized what you just said, and it felt a bit unnerving, because you just surrendered control of your life. I’ve experienced that a handful of times, including the night before last, when Holy Spirit touched my heart and the prayer became, Take my world apart.

 

In the “after, after” moments, when the dust settled and I got to look back at what the Lord had done, both in and through me, I was so glad I was obedient. It’s the middle, the time of stretching and dross-burning, that causes me to be a bit unnerved, now. But the Lord gives us His promises, like Isaiah 54:2, that encourage us to enlarge and stretch what we can imagine, without holding anything back. And Isaiah 43:18-19, that tells us to forget the past—don’t be marked by it any longer—and to see what He is doing and is about to do in our lives. Those are the things that move us.

 

When we can already feel God’s Spirit moving in our hearts and lives, we are compelled to action and respond quickly and obediently to the Lord. I think that’s what emboldened Peter to call out, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water,” (Matthew 14:28 NKJV). It’s what propelled him to jump out of the boat! It’s what propels all of us to jump out of our boats, out of our comfort zones.

 

Then, just like Peter, we find ourselves standing on water…but we don’t know how to walk on water! Before we panic too severely, the Lord promises to carefully watch over us and to tell us where to go, (Psalm 32:8). He challenges us to not be afraid, but to keep pressing forward, knowing He will be with us, wherever we go, (Joshua 1:9).

 

Did I pray a bold prayer when God touched my spirit? Yes! And it’s a bit unnerving. But if I’m going to do the big things God has planned for me, if I want to step into the vision He’s laid before me, then I need to let go of more of this world, and cling solely to Him.

 

If it’s been a while since you prayed a prayer that’s a bit unnerving, I challenge you to do it. Ask God to stretch you, to call you out of your boat and safety zone. Ask Him to lead. Then jump out of your boat and follow Him.

 

“For all the sons and daughters who are walking in the darkness…”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dnUx3qVoyg

Tear Down the Walls ~ Hillsong United

©Heather Potts 2023

New Blog Site Coming Soon!

A Recipe

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8sazOiolF8

Desert Road ~ Casting Crowns

 

Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. ~ Philippians 4:9 NIV

 

Have I told you my oatmeal cookie story? One day, while baking oatmeal cookies, I learned the difference between baking soda and baking powder. While both are white powders, one gives oatmeal cookies and the other gives oatmeal goo.

 

Lately, God keeps bringing me back to Philippians 4:4-9. Five of the six verses are about your focus and thoughts. I need this constant reminder because my mind continuously tries to wander. It’s remarkable how many “needs” come to mind when I try to have time with God: need to review the budget, need to exercise, need to make tea, need to mail a letter, need to make plans, etc.  The devil knows that just like baking power and baking soda don’t give the same results, neither do a wandering mind and a mind set on Christ. One results in warm goo, while the other in delightful treats.

 

Just to be clear, God designed our minds to be curious. Both Jeremiah 31:13 and Matthew 6:33 call us to seek God. But the devil corrupts what God creates, which is why our minds wander, wonder, and worry when we should be seeking Him.

 

My hope in sharing this is to point you to Jesus, the One who holds our peace. If you need a recipe to help, I’ve been trying to follow this one:

1.       Rejoice always.

a.       Write down what the Lord’s done for you lately.

2.       Let your gentleness shine.

a.       Point others to Jesus.

3.       Be anxious for nothing.

a.       Write down your cares and worries, that way you won’t have to try to remember them anymore.

4.       Walk in God’s peace.

a.       Decide to choose peace over worry.

5.       Choose your thoughts.

a.       Make a list of the virtues found in Philippians 4:8, so that when chaos comes, your thoughts have a place of truth on which to land.

6.       Practice these things, remembering the God of peace will be with you.

 

Father, forgive my wandering, wondering, worrying mind. Holy Spirit, keep this “recipe” in the forefront of my mind, so that insecurity, complaining, doubt, and worry don’t overtake me. I long and love to be used by You. Keep me seeking after and focused on You. And when I mess up, remind me that the God of peace is with me. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

©Heather Potts 2023

*New Blog Site and Publication Coming Soon! Keep watching for details!

Answered Why

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aiyQsHKnCvc&list=RDaiyQsHKnCvc&start_radio=1

Blessings Everywhere ~ Elevation Worship

 

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good… ~ Genesis 50:20 NIV

 

People are naturally curious. Sometimes our curiosity leads us to seek out the answers. Other times, it leads us to demand them, feeling it is our right to know:

Why? That’s not fair! Why this? Why me? Why now? Why!

I have often heard my children sound just like that, as have I to God.

 

Personally, there have been many times my asking – or demanding – has been met with no specific answer, and definitely not when I felt it was timely. But then other times, God has brought a very fast answer to our questions to show us that He is still God and He is for us. The latter has been our experience in our current situation. Sparing the details, God made it very obvious that His hand was all over this, including bringing much needed peace in the middle of the situation.

 

The next time you are facing something you don’t understand, ask God to send you in the direction of His peace. It may not lead to specific answers to your “why,” but at least you’ll know you’re going on His path.

 

Father, I thank you that sometimes you answer us, immediately and specifically. But Lord, I also thank you for the times You simply hold us close to your heart, so that we can rest in Your peace. Hold us today, Lord. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.

 

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~ Jeremiah 29:11 NIV

©Heather Potts 2023

He's Your Guard

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZNDD2qxJYo

Peace ~ Hillsong Young & Free

 

and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ~ Philippians 4:7 NKJV

 

“My Father in Heaven disciplines me by teaching me His Word. This gives me the power to keep myself calm in the face of temptation and of adversity.”

 

These words, based on Psalm 94:12-13, are from a list of confessions that a friend shared with Brad and I around 2007. After diving deeper into Philippians 4, I have a better appreciation of the truth found in those words: He disciplines me by teaching me His Word…

 

A month ago, I told God that I was tired, emotional, and in need of peace. That’s when Holy Spirit reminded me of Philippians 4:4-7. In the past month, He’s told me to:

1.       Rejoice always – it produces joy.

2.       Let your gentleness shine – it draws others to Jesus.

3.       Be anxious for nothing – leave room for God to move.

And finally: Walk in God’s peace – He’s your guard.

 

Philippians 4:7 states that God’s peace guards our hearts and minds. Our hearts and minds are the seat (core or center) of our will, emotions, thoughts, and actions. We’re told to guard our thoughts and hearts throughout the Bible, because “… as he thinks in his heart, so is he…,” and “… out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks,” (Proverbs 23:7; Luke 6:45 NKJV). However, we are not expected to guard them in our own strength, but by the Lord’s peace.

 

We can trust God’s peace—which goes beyond all understanding in degree, capacity, and amount—because of Who gives it. He is not a lifeless, nameless God. God’s name, here, is Theos, which means “the guardian God of anyone, blessing and protecting him,” (blueletterbible.org).

 

Does it change your view of God to know that He is your guard? I was immediately encouraged and in awe. That revelation was like another stroke on the canvas, like another detail of my picture of God was filled in with color.

 

The promise in Philippians 4:7 helps us to walk in God’s peace, because He’s our guard. In a world where chaos abounds for all, peace does much more abound for those who are in Christ Jesus.

©Heather Potts 2023

Leave Room for God to Move

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryD3D9X2myk

God is in this Story ~ Katy Nichole & Big Daddy Weave

 

Hey, friend. Mind if I sit by you? I see that worried look on your face. I get it; I’ve been worried about some things, too. But Holy Spirit has been talking with me and I wanted to share it with you.

 

The Bible says, “Be anxious for nothing,” – a simple, yet difficult command. After some prayer, I realized that I have “liked” worrying, because it gave me a sense of power and control in circumstances where I had none. What Holy Spirit showed me is that I actually had a lot of power, but I gave it over to the enemy by worrying, instead of praying.

 

The rest of Philippians 4:6 tells us what to do with all of those anxious thoughts: By prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Honestly, I’m pretty good at talking to God—both crying and whining, at times—but I’m usually pretty bad at doing so with thanksgiving. Because I wondered why it was so important to pray with thanksgiving, I looked up the meaning. “With” is a Greek preposition that means, “in the midst of, amid,” (Blueletterbible.org). And “thanksgiving” is giving thanks for God’s blessings. When we’re thanking God, we’re remembering all that He’s already done for us, the crazy and amazing ways He’s come through for us in the past. When we’re focusing on that, all the worries fall by the wayside and the possibilities in God begin to open before us. Those are the things we want power behind and want to give life to by speaking them out of our mouths.

 

Proverbs says we have the power of life and death in our tongues. I know that when I worry, there is nothing fruitful or life-giving coming out of my mouth. But when I’m worshipping, praising, and thanking God, that’s when power is ignited!

 

Father, I pray for my friend. There is so much going on – so many unknowns, and fear is waiting to consume my friend. But Lord, You are the God of angel armies. You are the God of miracles. You heal the broken hearted, break bondages—including all types of addictions—and restore relationships. You heal diseases and breathe Your life into that which was dead. You are the Great I AM and nothing is too hard for the Lord, my God! Father, thank you that You are moving in my friend’s situation. Please bring peace and joy to my friend’s heart and mind. Lord, please give my friend clarity of thought. Thank you that we have the mind of Christ and can operate in His wisdom and ability. Thank you, Father, for working behind the scenes in my friend’s situation—working out every detail for my friend’s good and Your glory. Holy Spirit, please be with my friend. Guide each step in Your wisdom. Bring to mind all promises from God to encourage my friend. Lord, I ask for continued blessings, protection, and provision for my friend—far above all we can think, ask, or imagine. Lord, help my friend to see all that’s possible in You! And Lord, I pray for those who are watching my friend’s life and situation. I pray that they’d be in awe of how You answer our prayers. I pray that many would come to fear and follow the Lord because of the mighty works You have done and are doing in my friend’s life. I pray all these things in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.

 

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ~ Philippians 4:6 NIV

 

©Heather Potts 2023

Be Anxious for Nothing

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_7XIKVgRGY

Letting Go ~ Steffany Gretzinger

 

Do not fret or have any anxiety about anything… ~ Philippians 4:6 AMPC

Do not be anxious about anything… ~ NIV

Be careful for nothing… ~ KJV

 

“Be careful” or “be anxious” is from a Greek word meaning, “to be troubled with cares,” (blueletterbible.org).

“Troubled” means, “to be stressed or agitated mentally,” (dictionary.com).

“Nothing” means, “nothing; no thing; not anything,” (blueletterbible.org).

 

Be anxious—troubled; stressed or agitated mentally—with the cares of nothing—not anything.

 

Philippians 4:6 is a command. This command is a personal, plural imperative. You—all of you reading this—do it. Decide. Choose and follow-through. The follow-through, however, is not a physical action. It’s a mental focus shift. You’re not physically picking out your clothes. You’re mentally picking out your thoughts. Instead of shorts or jeans, you’re choosing to worry and have distress—or to not worry and not have distress, or other mental agitation.

 

When God gives a command, He knows He’s enabled us to do it.

 

This is the mental shift, where the rubber meets the road.

Step 1: Rejoice always!

Step 2: Let your gentleness shine.

Step 3: Be anxious for nothing.

 

Choose to be anxious for no thing. Decide to not be troubled with the cares of anything.

 

God’s not calling us to be uncaring. He’s calling us to not get bogged down in worrying about the people and things about which we care. He’s setting us up for success. To get there, however, we must each choose to follow through on His command. We must choose to be anxious for nothing.

©Heather Potts 2023

Let Your Gentleness Shine

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rDNA2O7eNhM

Waves ~ Worship Central

 

Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. ~ Philippians 4:5 NIV

 

“Let your gentleness be evident to all” seems an odd statement. But it makes sense in reference to Paul’s earlier letter to the Philippians. Paul said if they’d received anything from their relationship with Christ or His Spirit—encouragement, comfort, fellowship with Holy Spirit, tenderness, or compassion—they needed to share it. Shine it. They were to be an example of what they had experienced or seen, (Philippians 2:1-4). Paul called on them—as we are also called—to have the same mindset, love, nature, and purpose as Christ.

 

Paul was bold in his speaking because “The Lord is near.” “Nearness” is not about distance, but about time. The return of Christ is soon. However, knowing that God doesn’t view time like we do, Jesus said, But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father… Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come,” (Matthew 24:36,42 NIV). Because the time of Christ is near, Paul implores believers to let our gentleness shine. In a world that’s harsh, full of so much anger and hate, Paul knew it would be our gentleness that would draw people to us, allowing us to point them to Jesus.

 

Some days and seasons will be easier, while others will be a struggle. Regardless of the events or emotions of the day or season, remember:

1.       Rejoice always – it produces joy

2.       Let your gentleness shine – it points others to Jesus

©Heather Potts 2023