We Hope, We Seek, We Pray

I think it is easy to get discouraged. Especially when you need something. We all go through hardships…whether they are small daily inconveniences or huge life changing events. We struggle and suffer and search for the right answers. We hope, we seek, we pray.

“Lord teach us to pray…” Luke 11:1

            Sometimes it might feel as if the problem is too big. You pray for God to come in, but you aren’t seeing any change. You aren’t getting the result you want. Or any change at all. You think there is no way this “change” could happen or God could fix this. I have recently been struggling with prayer and being able to trust in God that he will come through. I know I am important to him so why is he not giving me what I want, what I need? Last Sunday at Church the pastor talked about prayer. He read the famous “Lord’s Prayer” from Matthew 6:9-13. We all know it…

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us for the evil one.”

I guess you could say God was trying to teach me something! (Wow okay God good one…) The line that stands out the most to me is His will be done. Well there’s his answer. All of my confusion and frustration and waiting are answered by those words. I FORGOT HOW POWERFUL HE IS. I FORGOT HOW HE KNOWS EVERY HEART. I FORGOT HOW HIS TIMING IS PERFECT. I FORGOT THAT HIS LOVE COVERS EVERY STRUGGLE AND PAIN THERE IS. His will be done. He has the best interest for every single human in mind. He knows the depths of our hearts and he loves us the same. We cannot lean on our own understanding. We do not know what is best even when we think we might (typical human lol). GOD’S WILL IS GOOD AND ACCEPTABLE AND PERFECT. He has taught me that his plan is greater than mine. His promises are true.

 “‘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).

I am SO thankful for the people God has placed in my life. I am so fortunate to have friends who pour into me and love me and teach me so much. One thing I have learned second semester/this summer is something I didn’t ever consider or think to do.

PRAY RADICALLY

            So what does that even mean…? You will be surprised. God will surprise you. He has definitely surprised me. I have meditated on this verse all summer and every time I read it I am hopeful and reminded of how powerful he is. HE IS ABLE! He will provide everything and MORE.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.”
(Ephesians 3:20) (This verse gives me the chills. LIKE WHAT!?)

He has won every battle. God is ABLE. Don’t think God is not capable of anything. Sometimes we struggle with believing that what we pray can actually make an impact. “Like any father, when he hears his children crying out, he answers them. Whole-hearted prayer moves God to do the impossible.” Think of all the miracles he did in the bible. GOD IS THE SAME. If he could make the blind see he can certainly show someone the light. Jesus does not discriminate. He does not pick “easy battles.” Don’t be afraid to pray for the unimaginable. A heart that has undergone surgery 3 times OR A HEART THAT HAS NOT BEEN SAVED. Don’t just pray for things that our human minds can comprehend! Pray with everything you have. He will provide for us at the right time. YOU WILL BE AMAZED/SURPRISED.

 “’Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered… ‘Therefore I tell you whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.’” (Mark 11:22&24)

God doesn’t want just empty phrases or half-hearted prayers because we think he will not answer them. OUR PRAYERS PLAY AN ACTIVE ROLE IN HIS PLANS.

            Just for laughs: imagine if every prayer you have prayed got answered. YIKES IF YALL KNEW MY PRAYERS (LOL) Thank you Jesus for YOUR will!

Beauty to Unveil

Sunday, May 19, 2013

“The king is enthralled by your beauty.”(Psalm 45:11)

I have been reading a book called “Captivating” by John and Stasi Eldredge that has opened my eyes to the desires of a woman’s soul, one of them being to unveil beauty. Something God has recently put on my heart is to share what I have learned about beauty in a world that twists and reshapes our view on it. The desire to be beautiful is a timeless longing, so why not understand it?

The first thing I learned is that beauty is essential to God, and it is also the most misunderstood quality of His. “Beauty is the essence of God.” The bible tells us that the whole world is filled with the glory of God through its beauty. I am currently on a plane headed to Oklahoma City for my friend’s wedding, and I am looking out the window to witness the most beautiful sunset I have ever seen. I am up so high in the plane I feel a part of this masterpiece! God is the best artist. You are the mirror image of this God, which is why you desire for these things too.   

“The reason a woman wants beauty to unveil is simply because God wants to as well. God is captivating beauty.”

God has given us Eve, “the crowning touch of creation,” because beauty is the essence of a woman (both physical and spiritual). God created Eve with a beautiful form and a beautiful spirit just as he created you and me in that way.

“Every experience of beauty points to eternity.”

            So why does beauty matter? Because beauty is SO powerful.Women desire to be heard. Beauty speaks that “all will be well.” Think about a day at the beach... you are surrounded by spectacular scenery, and all your worries seem to disappear.  A woman who is comfortable with her feminine beauty is a woman who can rest and live at peace. Women desire to be seen. Beauty invites. What I mean by this is that something beautiful (a pretty song or picture-perfect scenery) is something that draws you in; it captivates you. Women desire to be an irreplaceable role. Beauty inspires. Think of what it would have been like to know a “beautiful woman” such as Mother Theresa. Her beauty shows us that life can be better, and it calls us to do something higher.

Beauty is an essence that is given to every woman at her creation.Every woman of any age desires to be beautiful, not just because they want to “get a man” but because it is actually a part of her heart, her design. This is where the biggest misconception comes in.  Beauty causes untold pain in the lives of women who never grasp the idea of true beauty. The world has created this image of what is beautiful and what is not. THAT IMAGE IS A LIE!

The bible tells us that Satan originally fell because of his beauty. He was beautiful and became prideful and wanted more praise. Because of that, it is his mission to destroy any beauty he sees. That includes any great work of art created by God. He fears your beauty.

He puts an echoing noise of what is considered “beautiful” in most women’s minds. You need to have this type of hair. You need to have this type of body. You should dress this way. You need to act like this. Why do we give in to this normalcy look? Why can’t we be ourselves? Why don’t we express who we really are?

“You are loved by the God of the universe. You are hated by His enemy.”

Turn to the One who has sought you out from the beginning,  the One who has made you in His image, the One who thinks you are beautiful and captivating. 

“There is radiance hidden in your heart that the world desperately needs.” 

 Don’t be afraid to unveil your beauty!