What I'm Listening To Wednesday

Happy Happy Happy Birthday to the Nurse!!  Love you!!

http://youtu.be/-XEGu2TOiZ0

Short Saturday Post

I've become more interested in spiritual warfare recently due to a lot of circumstances. Part of it has been that the school verse this year is Ephesians 6: 10-18. What does that mean to equip ourselves with the armor of God? Part of it is teaching Beth Moore's Breaking Free. How can we live life as overcomers? Part of it comes from diving more into God's Holiness and wanted to be aware of the devil's schemes. How can I live a holy and alert life? Part of it comes from some personal struggles, like not sleeping well or having bad dreams. How can I finally sleep in peace? I'm reading the Kindle version of Chip Ingram's The Invisible War,  but I may actually have to seek out a hard copy since I can't write my own notes in it. Anyone ever read this? If you have, what are your thoughts? How about other resources out there? I'm taking suggestions and prayers!

Soulful Sunday: Bethel Tides

On Tuesday Bethel's new release, Tides, came out. My life is changed. The musicality of the entire work is excellent. It moves my soul in a deep way, responding to the Spirit. The two videos below are two of my favorites. The words express how my heart is feeling lately. I am overjoyed to put a name to all that is in my heart right now. Enjoy!

Be Still: http://youtu.be/TAPpunj-dMM

Letting Go: http://youtu.be/okmxFDMYuEQ

How about a big cup of BOLD PRAYER this morning?

God challenges us. He picks that area we are afraid to talk about or acknowledge in our lives. He wants us to grow strong in that area, so He places opportunities to help us grow. For me, that area is approaching the throne of God with a trusting, comfortable, BOLD manner.

Last year I was filled with faith and was praying a specific bold prayer. I'll admit, it wasn't easy to get to that place, but God allowed me to experience a couple of things that got me on the bold prayer bandwagon for this specific request. Now that prayer was not answered in the way that I thought and I was left with huge disappointment. And the bulk of the disappointment was in myself. I felt so dumb, like an inept Christian for praying the bold prayer. I was sure I had done something wrong. And because I felt I couldn't discern God's leading correctly, I stopped boldly praying. I was petitioning God with bland requests. No need to pray boldly if I'm going to be wrong. 

God saw that weakness and has been working to change my heart. He has giving me the story of John 11 over and over again, showing me that His timing prevails over our desires. He answers our prayers in the way to give Him the most glory. God and I have been walking this road of trusting His timing until we came to this cliff in my mind. We are here at this cliff. God is asking me to jump off into deep faith. The way I jump is to begin by boldly praying again. I've spent time seeking Him, it's now time to ask Him.

I had a dream last week. I was in a Starbucks in line to order my favorite drink, a salted caramel mocha latte.  I really wanted that drink, but when I got to the counter, I ordered a black coffee. I posted about it on Facebook, and God used a sweet friend to confirm God's leading. She said, "The prophetic dream person in me thinks you need to ask for really bold, sweet things in your prayers." When I saw her comment I dropped my phone because I was so shocked. She had no way of knowing that God was asking me to pray boldly. THAT was definitely the Holy Spirit moving, prompting, asking me to make the jump.

This morning my devotional was from Nehemiah 2:1-9, where Nehemiah asks the king to go back to his homeland to begin rebuilding the ruins. Pretty bold request to ask your boss if you can leave your current job to go back and fix your homeland up. Immediately I thought, Nehemiah was lucky. The king could have killed him. Then I felt God whisper, approach me with same boldness. I've seen you have the same sadness. I want to rebuild your ruins. Ask me, your King. Watch me work in my way and timing. 

I share all of this for two reasons. First, I share it because I want you, my readers, my friends, my family to keep me accountable. Ask me if I'm boldly praying. Ask me if I have approached God with confidence. Ask me if I've jumped off the cliff and into the unknown depths of faith. Secondly, I share this to encourage you to approach God with your bold prayers. Reach out to His mighty throne and ask. His sweet blessings are waiting on the other side.