Welcome to this week’s blog. I felt compelled this week to share a topic that has deeply touched my heart this past week. First, I believe nothing that happens in our lives is coincidental or by accident. I believe people who cross our paths, every experience we encounter, has already been well thought out, planned and ordained by God. I truly believe God puts certain people in our lives for a reason, and for His purpose. . .to fulfill His plans. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. - Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV).
I could sit down with each of you for days and share with you the countless circumstances that I have encountered over my lifetime that would overwhelmingly convince you without a doubt that God is truly in control of my life, and the lives of those who cross my path, and even more than any of us realize.
This week was an amazing week as my husband and I stayed focused on the job at hand as part of our new journey and final destination to relocate to the mid-west in our near future. This week we listed ~90% of all of our furniture on FB Marketplace. Within 15 minutes of posting items, then within 24 hours, we practically had everything we listed as part of our moving sale SOLD, and scheduled to be picked up. But that's not the significant part of this story. Little did I know this week, that my "Little Gray Chair, in my office would not only change my life as the Holy Spirit called upon me, but as a result of my love for the Lord, and knowing when I've been called upon to serve the Lord, I was blessed by touching the soul of a woman who came to my doorstep. From goose bumps to tears, and unbeknown to the both of us upon our greeting, we identified ourselves as Christian women who love the Lord. We both knew immediately it wasn't about the moving sale. In a short time, it wasn't about the "Little Gray Chair," either, but it was all about God, our Lord and how the Holy Spirit came upon me to share the good news with this lovely lady who came to my doorstep to purchase my "Little Gray Chair."
Unbeknown to either of us, God had a plan yesterday that the two of us needed to cross paths. I shared with her the importance of prayer, and a deep seeded relationship with Christ. I shared the importance for her to read God's Word, and let it germinate in her soul. I found myself reciting Proverbs 3:5-6 (ESV) - Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. I gifted her with eight of my faith-based books for her and her girlfriend, who both are looking for peace, and a new hope in their lives. I shared how important it is to God that we pray to Him every day, without babbling, pride and selfishness because He already knows what we are going to ask for before we do. He is our creator, the one who knitted us in our mother's womb. He knows our every thought, and He sees our hearts. I shared with this lovely lady that God already knows the desires of her heart.
I couldn't say enough of how wonderful my God has been in my life. I indicated to my new friend in Christ that I could sit with her for days to tell her all of the wonderful things that God has done in my life. I could tell her of the endless counts of where God intervened in my life, when I thought I was in control and didn't need Him. I shared the importance of finding peace in her life, and the only way she could find peace in her life is through Christ. His peace cannot be found in this world. When we follow Jesus, when we seek and find His promises in His word, it is only then when we find peace. Find the place of communion and there you will find the place of peace.
I've learned in my 60 years of life to celebrate God before I receive the answer to my prayers. I believe in building the house and God will fill it. I have learned to celebrate the joy before something has come. Proverbs 16:3 (ESV) - Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established. I've learned to shout for joy, even for the delayed answers to my prayers because God's delays are due to His perfect timing. Bring it to us Lord, but most of what we want we will have to go get it! When the Lord breaths on the things that are the desires of our heart, He breaths on it NOW. His NOW is when He knows you are ready to accept the blessing and not before. God promises will deliver on your prayers, if your prayers are part of his ultimate plan for your life, and within His impeccable timing.
Learn to celebrate and honor His goodness and grace. Find promise in His word. How do you do this? Read God's promises in scripture, His 7 major promises, to find peace. A peace that comes only by the Grace of God. Keep your eyes on the end result, the prize in the end, and not where you are at today. Today you're on the journey, the destination is the prize in the end. God will reveal to you each step of the journey, the here and now, that will ultimately lead you to the end result of your prayer. Walk the straight and narrow road with God, by putting all of your trust in Him once you've prayed your prayers and released the outcome to Him.
Hebrews, Chapter 6 tells us by faith (builds confidence) and patience (builds endurance) we will inherit God's promises with a flood of prophetic strength. And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. - Hebrews 6:11-12 (NKJ). Memorize the promises of the Lord, don't go through life relying on your own ideas. The Book of John, Chapter 7 tells us do not get anchored in our own opinions, one who speaks his own mind, with his own agenda. Proverbs 16:9 (ESV) - The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
Proverbs 16:1-3 (ESV) - The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord. All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the Lord weighs the spirit. Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
I believe our generation is on the edge of something that we have no control, but we do have the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than ourselves. I look forward to every day where I can cultivate God's trust in my own life, and in the lives of others. My daily diet is His promises, which keeps me healthy in spirit. And, before I go to sleep at night, I ask God if He has a word for me. God always speaks to me, and tells me how He already fought the battle and won, but I must have faith (confidence) and patience (endurance) that He will bring me through anything I face in my life because He's already won the battle for me. In John 16:33 (ESV) - I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
This is why prayer is so important. In prayer, I say "Bring it to me Lord," but most of what I want I have to get through prayer and devotion. And in parallel, in order for us to fight off the spiritual warfare in our lives, the enemy, we proclaim out loud "I am strong; therefore, I rebuke the father of lies." James 4:7 (ESV) tells us - Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. And when I include a prayer of an armor of protection, I believe God hides me from the enemy. But when He hides me, He doesn't hide me out of view, He hides me out of reach of the enemy. Ephesians 6:10-18 (ESV) tells us - Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness.
I have also learned in my life whether in prayer or whenever I say I love you to Jesus, He puts it on the enemy's stand-alone voice communications system! Remember, the enemy's ways are inferior to feasting with Jesus. When we focus on the enemy's lies, and he poisons our thoughts and our minds, we lose our appetite to feast with Jesus. Again, when you find the place of communion with Jesus, you will find the place of peace and protection. We must keep our eyes on God's promises. And, when we do, He will give us the heart to know Him! God always has something to say to us, so listen and let it germinate in you. The Word of the Lord is the Word of God, so it's hard for Him to have nothing to say to us because He is our creator.
In closing, it's been a whirlwind of a week for us. We've met many wonderful Christian people. I continue to be convinced; God always has a deliberate reason for putting certain people in our lives. This week God led a lovely lady to my doorstep for His reasons, and for His purpose. We may not have all the answers today, but we do know it was by His intentions. And by the means for the two of us to cross paths before I leave California, God used my "Little Gray Chair" as the instrument to bring us together. Why? Because God had something to say to this lovely lady, and He awakened the Holy Spirit within me to speak to her. With goose bumps and tears, His plan was successful, for this lovely lady heard the words of the Holy Spirit that not only touched her soul, but both of us made a new friend yesterday, 11/05/2021, through bold faith.
Blessings until next week,
Debra Pauli Unstoppable Believer
Scripture Quotes: Holy Bible: New International Version (NIV) / New King James (NKJ) / English Standard Version (ESV)
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