Prayer

DO YOU BELIEVE?

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I was so blessed to be able to pray for our waitress as a friend and I had a late breakfast in a local restaurant today. 
 
“Can I pray with you? Do you have a need this morning?” That is all it takes to open the door to being that connection between God and a miracle waiting to be released into a person’s life!!   

Do you believe that?? Do you believe that God not only WANTS to use you…but WILL use you to bring healing, restoration, deliverance, hope, encouragement, and love to others?

If you do believe…I would encourage you to be BOLD! Take the opportunity to be that person that God can use to change a person’s life for His glory!!

Are you willing? Be expectant as you go about your day tomorrow! Speak Life! Speak Blessing!! Speak Love!!

AARON AND HUR

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So it came about when Moses held his hand up, that Israel prevailed, and when he let his hand down,  Amalek prevailed.  But Moses’ hands were heavy.  Then they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it; and Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side and one on the other.  Thus his hands were steady until the sun set.    (Exodus 17: 11-12 NASB)

I have been thinking of this Scripture a lot lately.  A lot has been happening in my life and I have come to the realization of how important friends are in helping me to accomplish God’s will in my life.

I don’t mean just the friendship and fellowship I enjoy with my Brothers and Sisters in Christ.  And that is very special to me.  But, I mean the importance of those people that I consider the “Aaron and Hurs” in my life.

I pray that everyone has those prayer warriors that will stand on either side of you and help you “hold your arms up” as you battle and press through until you achieve what the Lord is calling you to do during this time.  Moses held the staff of God in his hand.  I believe he had God’s anointing and authority to win the battle…but he needed help to achieve victory.

I am so humbled as I have seen the Lord place one and then another beside me as I need the extra support to be obedient in His plans for me.  I can feel their prayers and support holding me up when I begin to feel weak and overwhelmed.  I can feel their strength added to mine as I battle those forces that would try and stop God’s will from being manifested in my life.

Brothers and Sisters!  We ALL need to join together as the Body of Christ and support and strengthen each other through the power of the Holy Spirit!  God’s strength is multiplied as we come together in love and unity to bring about His will and purpose upon this earth.  Battles are won as we line-up side by side, arms linked, focusing on the Lord and His plans for the moment.  Let’s not get so caught up in the “big picture” that we miss what He wants us to achieve in the next moment!  As we face each battle together…walking under the Lord’s Banner…we will see VICTORY!!  Hallelujah!

I humbly say “Thank you” to all those that are my “Aaron and Hurs.”  I can’t do it without you…

And I pray that I can be YOUR Aaron and Hur as the Lord uses you to achieve VICTORY in His kingdom!

OCCUPY THE TERRITORY!

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I was stopping by Walmart for a quick trip to pick up a few items before heading for home. As I was getting my last few purchases, I began to push my cart and saw a face I hadn’t seen in over 3 years.  I smiled and said my, “Hi, how are you doing?” expecting to get a response of “Fine!” and moving on.

But, the Lord had other plans!  As she began to walk towards me I knew that I was to connect with this precious Sister in Christ.  She was hungry for conversation…but that was not why the Lord had me there.  She began to share about how she was raising her 4 grandchildren and her exhaustion was evident in her voice and in her countenance.

As I was quiet and allowed her to share all that was on her heart, I found myself drawn to her commitment to these grandchildren.  She poured out her love and time to help them with their homework…with carrying them to and from activities…with making sure they had good meals on the table…and with making sure they knew the Lord.

As she continued to talk, she came to a point of asking me to pray for her youngest grandchild who was having trouble in school.  Her voice faltered and I could see the tears threatening to fall down her cheeks.

I told her that when I get a request to pray, I like to pray right then.  I asked her if we could pray for him right now and reminded her that God hears us whether we have our eyes closed or open.  She immediately responded with an enthusiastic nod of her head.

We looked into each other’s eyes as I began to pray for her grandson and finished by praying for her too.  And this time the tears did spill over as she felt the touch of God!  I’m sure that many looking on just thought we were having a conversation…although I did see a few who seemed to take more than a passing interest in what was going on.

Were they looking because they saw her tears?  Were they looking because we had stopped our carts and were not in any hurry to move on?  Or perhaps they glanced our way because they heard the name of the Lord!

As we parted our ways, she reached over and said, “I don’t think our meeting was a coincidence!” And of course I agreed.  God is always ready to connect us with those who are hurting…with those who need encouragement…with those who need prayer…with those who need to feel His presence and love.

What a blessing to be used by the Lord for His glory!  May we join with Him to be His voice and His body upon this earth!  Brothers and Sisters, let’s occupy the territory He has positioned us in and spread His Love wherever we may be!  We can make a difference!  Are you ready?

LENT 2016 – My Prayer For You

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As we journey together through this season of Lent…my prayer for you is Ephesians 1:17-19 CEB:

“I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, will give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation that makes God known to you. I pray that the eyes of your heart will have enough light to see what is the hope of God’s call, what is the richness of God’s glorious inheritance among believers, and what is the overwhelming greatness of God’s power that is working among us believers…”

                                                   

BE STILL…

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I have noticed that this little bird has been camped out for 2 days in my bird feeder instead of flying off with it’s friends.  It wanted to stay where the food was.  As I watched it’s behavior, I realized an important spiritual lesson was unfolding before me.

Sometimes we need to “camp out” when we are being fed spiritually by the Lord.  How often do we read our daily Bible reading and then rush off to do other things with our friends?  Do we allow the Lord time to speak to us through His word?

Sometimes we need to commit to pray until we hear from the Lord.  Do we go through our prayer list and then stop…or do we wait…seeking to connect with the Great Intercessor?

Do we have a time set aside so we may simply sit (camp out) in the Lord’s presence…to pour ourselves into Him and let Him pour Himself into us?

I hear the Lord saying, “Be still, and know that I am God.  I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”  Psalm 46:10

MAY WE BE ONE!

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As I began to awaken this morning from a deep slumber, I felt this prayer rising up within me:

Give me Your eyes, Lord, that I may see.

Give me Your ears, Lord, that I may hear.

Give me Your mouth, Lord, that I may speak.

Give me Your hands, Lord, that I may do.

Give me Your feet, Lord, that I may go.

Give me Your heart, Lord, that I may love.

When I went to my Bible, I found that my spirit and heart were agreeing in prayer with what Jesus prayed for all believers:

May they all be one,

as You, Father, are in Me and I am in You.

May they also be one in Us,

so the world may believe You sent Me.

I have given them the glory You have given Me.

May they be one as We are one.

I am in them and You are in Me.

May they be made completely one,

so the world may know You have sent Me

and have loved them as You have loved Me.

John 17:21-23 (HCSB)

Praying Mantis – A Word For The Church

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As I was washing a load of clothes, I walked past my laundry basket that I use for dirty towels. And there perched motionless on a towel was a baby praying mantis!

As I continued watching, it slowly started moving. I transported it gently outside where it needs to be for life!!

As I was thinking about it later, I started feeling that there was a prophetic meaning to this. However, I didn’t really seek the Lord about it immediately. I usually am not slow in putting to paper what I feel the Lord is saying through a circumstance in my life. The Lord used a dear friend to give me a little push through a comment he made!

As I began praying about this, I felt led to look up some facts about this insect. And as I began to look up the characteristics…I began to get revelation of what I believe the Lord is saying to His Church.

What I saw was definitely a baby. I believe we are in the beginning of a new season of prophetic intercession. We will begin to see a new level of intercession beginning to spread throughout the body of Christ. I sensed the “baby” was referring to the beginnings of this happening…not that it was immature. On the contrary – it will be stronger, more intense, and definitely will grow quickly!

The praying mantis was sitting on top of a pile of dirty towels. These towels were getting ready to be cleaned and washed. In John 13:4-5, Jesus humbly prepared Himself for ministry (washing the disciples feet) by wrapping a towel around Himself. As He washed His disciples’ feet, He dried them with the towel. I believe we are being called to look at our “towels”…what we are “clothed in” for ministry…and see if it needs to be cleansed! And we are to make sure we are ready to humbly get on our knees for the sake of others!

One characteristic of the praying mantis is that it is aggressive in getting what it needs. I believe in this new season of intercession, we will move from being predominantly reactive to situations seen – to a position of being proactive in moving in intercession to stop those things from happening that the Lord shows us. I use the word “aggressive” here not in a negative sense, but in the sense of being assertive, bold, and energetic. (American Heritage Dictionary)

These insects can turn their heads 180 degrees to scan their surroundings with two large compound eyes and three other simple eyes located between them. I believe the five eyes symbolizes the five-fold ministry of the Church. As the Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers come together in unity…the Lord will use each of the ministries to work together to bring about His Vision for His body. They will be able to “see” with greater clarity what is coming and be able to work together to prepare the Church…through declaration, decree, teaching, and prophetic intercession.

Praying Mantis are well camouflaged on the plants among which they live. We, as prophetic intercessors, will be able to move within the communities and cities in which we live under the covering of Almighty God! I believe we will not be “camouflaged” in the sense of not being seen by others…but in the sense of not being seen by the enemy of our souls – Satan. We will have supernatural protection to move in power and authority in the kingdom of God. Hallelujah!!

Finally, it was interesting when I came across the meaning of Mantis in the Greek. It means prophet or seer!! Praying Prophet!! I like that!

So, dear Brothers and Sisters, I know this is a lot – it really ended up being more than I was anticipating. But, I have written down what I believe the Lord is saying. And, as usual, I encourage you to not just accept everything that I have placed before you…but to seek God’s confirmation on the truth of it. Blessed be the name of the Lord!!

Leave Lukewarmness Behind!

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Lord, may we passionately pursue You and Your will in our lives! May we be ready and willing to do those things that we see as too big for us to do and not take the “safe” path because we have fear of failure. YOU are our success and our victory!!

Lord, help us to turn from lukewarmness in our lives and in the life of our Churches and kindle a Fire within us that cannot be put out by those things going on around us!

Lord, help us to join together as Your glorious and mighty Church and may we achieve great things in Your Kingdom for Your glory!! In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!

“Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs, even though checkered by failure, than to take rank with those poor spirits who neither enjoy much nor suffer much, because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” (Theodore Roosevelt)

“I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” (Revelation 3:15,16, 22 NIV)

HONOR

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It is an extreme honor to be recognized for something that you have put your heart and time into.

And I received this honor when I was recognized as Teacher of the Year by Westside Elementary School and then was also awarded the Ruth I. Shuler 2001-2002 Teaching Excellence Award by the Baker County School District.

To be honored for my teaching by my school and then by my school district…and then having the opportunity to compete with other teachers in the State of Florida for state recognition…could there be a greater honor than this?

And then when I retired in June 2011, I discovered there was a greater honor!  I was completely overwhelmed as the School Superintendent presented me with a beautiful plaque recognizing my ministry in prayer during my years of teaching.

As with all public schools, we were not allowed to have prayer as a part of our school day. Prayer in schools was done away with years ago.  But, when you are a vessel of the Living God, you are a vessel of prayer – that cannot be taken away by man.

I had the opportunity to pray for our county schools, for our teachers, and for our students with other committed Christians during each school year.  But, even more precious was the opportunity to pray with teachers I worked with and to walk through their joys and sorrows with them; having the opportunity to pray with mothers during parent conferences; and being able to pray over my classroom and over each child’s desk.

I have a precious memory of a little 6 year old girl holding my hand and looking up at me with big trusting eyes as we were walking and saying, “Mrs. Roach, would you pray for my daddy?  He is trying to find a job.”  Was she told by a parent to ask me or did she just reach out to me on her own?  I don’t know – but I prayed with her as we were walking – such a tender, precious moment.

Yes, being recognized for my teaching was a great honor.  But, being recognized for my ministry in prayer was an even greater honor.

Whatever your career, job, or calling…remember prayer is an important, necessary part in fulfilling your life’s work.  And prayer is necessary in living a fulfilling life!

Lord, I am thankful for the honor bestowed upon me by my friends and peers.  But, nothing can compare to the blessing of walking in Your will.  No honor can compare to being able to bring YOU glory and honor!  My hope is to one day stand before You and hear the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”  Now THAT is the ultimate honor!!!  I love You, Lord…