Tag: Freedom

Forget the Former

Forget the Former

by madepiecebypiece ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

We all have past memories and live with regrets.

Our hearts have experienced loss or bondage from trauma which keeps us stuck. Some minds may be consumed with memories they can’t get past. Some focus on the loss, the betrayal, and the deep hurts.

If your mind is living stuck on things that have happened in the past, know that isn’t what God wants for you.

We must forget the former and shift the focus to at all that God is going to do in the future!

We must feel the pain for a season, but then we must pick ourselves up and push forward. If there is breath in our lungs, then God still has purpose for us.

Losing or failing doesn’t mean our life ends. If we chose to remain stuck in the past, we will miss out on the good things God has yet to do in the future.

My friends, I know it hurts because I’ve been there and had to let go and give it to God. I had to accept I will never understand why some situations and circumstances occurred or why individuals I tried to help or pour into chose to wrong me.

We all want answers and explanations for closure.

But…

What if we were not meant to understand? What if God is just calling us to accept and to trust him?

If you are experiencing feeling stuck in your past, pray and ask God for strength to shift your focus. Ask him to help you turn and look to the new things which lie ahead, to the future.

Isaiah 46:18 tells us to forget the past and look to the future plans he will create for us.

Now depending on the version of the Bible you have or look at, he tells us this in different ways; but the main point all Bible versions share is “forget” what has happened previously [because it is done and out of our control] and look to what He will make happen.

When we keep our minds stuck in the past, we likely will miss what he is planning to do.

Today, can we dig deep to find the strength to anticipate the goodness that is yet to come from God? Forget what was, forget what hurts, and focus so that you may see what is coming!!

Isaiah 43:18 Versions:

Isaiah 43:18 NLT- But forget all that— it is nothing compared to what I am going to do.
Isaiah 43:18 CEV- Forget what happened long ago! Don't think about the past.
Isaiah 43:18 NKJV- Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.
Isaiah 43:18 NIV - Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past

The Prophet Isaiah here is speaking to the people telling them not to remain focused on their captivity. He is telling them that something new, something better is to come. God is calling us to look to him and to stop focusing on our circumstances. We are not to remain paralyzed looking back at our failures and shortcomings, that’s slavery, but instead we are to focus on the freedom we will have in Christ.

With eyes focused behind us we will not see what lies ahead. The focus must now be on the hope for a new future.

God has blessings to come. Now is the time to trust him!!

Pray with me:

♥️ Heavenly Father,

We are all carrying some kind of regret or turmoil deep within our hearts. Some of us mentally stay in the past and take comfort in pain because they don’t know how to let go and stop living in their past.

Some of us are battling feelings of betrayal and abandonment from people we expected to stand by us. Some of us feel defeated because our plans and dreams haven’t worked out successfully. And some of us just feel stuck and without hope that the pain can ever end.

Father, hearts are in need of your healing so Father, we call you today, to strengthen us and shift our minds onto the hope of the future to come. Holy Spirit, we call on you today to comfort us as we let go and let you heal the wounds we have allowed to take root. Lord Jesus, uproot the old and renew our minds and heal our hearts, so that we may keep our minds and hearts stayed on you and focus on your promises.

When we follow you, Lord, the best is yet to come. So remind us that you have a future for us. Remind us that healing will not be found when we live in the past. Holy Spirit, heal our deep wounds so that we can move forward, seeking after the purpose you still have us here for. Remind us oh God, that joy comes in the morning and tomorrow is a new dawn. Reveal to us all, the blessings that our pain blinds us from.

Father God, rise up your people to walk in their God ordained purposes and assignments! There is joy left to feel and work yet to be done. In Jesus name, help us to look forward to what you are going to do and may we be willing vessels knowing that you will restore and bring a hope that is brand new! In Jesus name we pray, Amen 🙏

Growing with you, Sandy

Find comfort in The Lord’s presence this Christmas

Find comfort in The Lord’s presence this Christmas

by madepiecebypiece ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Merry Christmas friends and family!

This season is not the easiest for me this year after the passing of my Dad, just less than 5 week’s ago. I spent months this year watching his health decline as he grew sicker and slowly disappeared. But, I want to take the time to stop and remember that Jesus is the reason we celebrate. Because he left Heaven to be with us, so that he could give us a way to join him there one day.

So today, I spend time with my family and I thank the Lord coming to give us hope. It may hurt now, but I know joy always comes in the morning so for that I give him all praise, honor and glory.

If you’re like me and experiencing loss, pain, sadness or suffering of any kind this holiday season, I pray that you will call out to the Lord for peace & comfort. And I pray that you too will hold tight to the truth that “Their Will Be Joy in the Morning!” Jesus came for the broken. You can trust him with whatever you’re struggling or battling with. May you find comfort & healing in the Lord’s presence this Christmas 🙏

Growing with you,

Sandy

”For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.“

Isaiah‬ ‭9‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Pray for the One Who Shows Hate

Pray for the One Who Shows Hate

by madepiecebypiece ♥ 2 Comments

Pray for the one who shows you hate you.

Pray for the one who insults you.

Pray for the one who criticizes you.

Pray for the one who speaks word curses over you.

Pray for their deliverance.

Pray for their repentance.

Pray for their freedom.

For they are bound by the lies of the enemy.

Show love when they show hate.

Bless them when they curse you.

Jesus sacrificed himself on the cross for them just as much as he did for you.

The first thing Jesus said upon the cross he said, “Forgive them father for they know not what they do”(Luke 23:34).

They are not evil, they are ignorant.

Pray that blindness be broken off.

Pray that their eyes may see.

Pray for their salvation.

Pray for their full surrender.

When someone is causing you pain and showing hatred, praying for them is one of the hardest things to do.

It is not easy, but it is possible!!

Cry out to the Lord and ask him to heal your pain, ask him to strengthen you to intercede on their behalf. They don’t know better, but you do. Do what is righteous. Show love in all circumstances & if and when you can’t, just say Jesus. He will cover you and them 🙏❤️

𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐈 𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐥𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐝𝐨 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐡𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐬𝐞 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮. – 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐰 𝟓:𝟒𝟒

Growing with you,

Sandy

Lead Me to the Feet of Jesus

Lead Me to the Feet of Jesus

by madepiecebypiece ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

God put a word on my heart for someone last night and I believe many are hurting and in need of this word.

“𝘞𝘢𝘪𝘵 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 𝘸𝘪𝘭𝘭 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘥 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘧𝘦𝘦𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘑𝘦𝘴𝘶𝘴.”

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness?

2 Corinthians 6:14

When we enter into relationship with someone who does not share our same values or calling, we become unequally yoked.

No peace can be found in this type of relationship. You will hurt one another. As one pulls in one direction, the other will pulls in the opposite direction. You’ll each be left feeling alone and frustrated.

Some of my ladies need to hear this, we cannot change a man, only God can! I had to learn this & when I finally did, the peace of the Lord fell upon me, and washed away all of my pain.

𝗟𝗘𝗧 𝗠𝗘 𝗕𝗘 𝗧𝗥𝗔𝗡𝗦𝗣𝗔𝗥𝗘𝗡𝗧 𝗧𝗢𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧:

Getting involved in a relationship with someone who did not share my same religious views, or values pulled me away from God. It didn’t happen immediately, and I didn’t actually realize it was happening, until I felt so unworthy to even step foot back into my church.

Conflict and anger slowly became a daily part of daily life. Deep within I wanted this person to be the man I needed him to be: a man who pointed me to Christ, but he did not and he could not. Because when it came down to core values, there was division.

If your faith is important to you, wait for the one who will lead you to the feet of Jesus.

✝️Wait for the one who will pray with you and for you.

✝️Wait for the one who will go to battle for you in the spirit.

✝️Wait for the one who will love you the way Christ loves the church.

✝️Wait for the one who will do the kingdom work with you.

Do not settle, and if you have settled know you don’t have to stay there. Hold your head up high, repent and begin your walk with God again. Walk in confidence knowing that he created you for a partner who will grow beside you and cover you spiritually as you both mature in faith.

Doing it my way failed me, and it will fail you too. Eventually the high will fade and you’ll find yourself in a low place living in torment inside of your mind. My hope that my Love for God would be contagious and spill over into my partner, left me broken in the end.

I know that am not the only one to experience this or walk through this valley. Glory to God that there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. And Glory to God that he is a God of restoration. Wait on the Lord!

There is joy in the waiting when you fall in love with Jesus ❤️🙏🙌

Pray with me:

Heavenly father, I lift up anyone who is hurting tonight, and being tormented by fear, division, mental or physical abuse or guilt and shame. Remind your children that you created each of us with a divine purpose. Help us to seek relationships that are divine appointments in line with your perfect will for our lives. Father God, today we come before you, and we repent of our sins. We ask you to forgive us for all the times we took our life into our own hands. Our lives are not our own. Everything we go through has purpose and is for your glory. Father God, strengthen anyone who is not in the place you have called them to, and give them the courage to move. May they open their hearts to you in full surrender. Father God, remove from all of us anything that is not from you or of you. Our hearts desire is to grow close to you and to walk in your purpose. May your will be done in our lives and through our lives. Father, may anyone who comes in contact with this word, surrender their heart, and fall at your feet. Lead us Lord, and show us what true love is. In Jesus mighty name we pray, Amen.

#madepiecebypiece #unequallyyoked #transparency #testimony #faith #restoration #ToGodbetheGlory #apieceofmystory #encouragement #joycomesinthemoring #healing #love #savior #Jesus

Be Still, it’s not about you…

Be Still, it’s not about you…

by madepiecebypiece ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

The Holy Spirit is speaking this to me today!!

Sometimes what we are going through isn’t about us!! There is no need to argue or fight. God is above it all!!! He will be exalted!!!

No matter what is attacking you today or what you are going through step out of your emotions and let God in. Let him remind you it’s not about you, about them, nor about what either of you want or need. Let GOD alone be exalted! He alone deserves all praise for everything that happens.

Even in the frustration, sadness, confusion, he is right there and no matter the outcome. He will be exalted!

We must let down our wants, desires and expectations and seek him in the madness. Trust him in the hardest situation and fully rely on him. It’s not about our will. Trials are here, walk through them and let them build you.

My Prayer Today:

Jesus, what are you trying to teach me today? This is all I am seeking.

“Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

“Stop fighting, and know that I am God, exalted among the nations,
exalted on the earth.”

Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭10‬ ‭CSB‬‬

“Attention, all! See the marvels of God! He plants flowers and trees all over the earth, Bans war from pole to pole, breaks all the weapons across his knee. “Step out of the traffic! Take a long, loving look at me, your High God, above politics, above everything.”

Psalms‬ ‭46‬:‭8‬-‭10‬ ‭MSG‬‬
#God #HeIsExhalted #BeStill #Godisinthis #HisWill #hisway #surrender #dietoself #spiritleadme

Something New

Something New

by madepiecebypiece ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

“Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already—you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there.”

Isaiah 43:19 GNTD

We are going into our 5th day of the new year 2023, and I pray you are filled with a heart and mind of expectancy. Take time to draw close to GOD through worship and in prayer and be reminded that it’s not about our own wants or desires or any new year resolutions. As followers of Christ, we must pray daily and seek out the Lord’s will for all decisions we will make.

In the Bible, in Isaiah 43:19, Isaiah was prophesying over what is to come in the future. The “new thing” he was referring to was Christs coming. Through Isaiah, GOD was giving the people of Isreal a hope and encouragement. Although they were not following GOD’s way and continued on in their evil ways no matter how many times GOD delivered them, GOD was starting to reveal to them that they would have a chance for salvation through the coming of the Messiah. GOD still loved them and wanted to give them another chance and help them to change.

Just as God was doing a new thing and making a way for the people of Israel, he desires to do the same for both you and I. When we fully surrender our lives to him in obedience, that is when he will be able to work in us and through us and do a new thing. He wants to make a way out of the dry dessert for us too. He wants to use us and transform us.

GOD is calling us to a new level of freedom in 2023. But he needs our willing hearts. Just as it was up to the people of Isreal to accept GOD’s offering, so must we too accept his invitation to move in a new direction.

Do you want what GOD is offering? Do you want a new direction in life. Do you want to step out of your old patterns and walk into the new thing he wants to do? We have a choice. Will you choose to leave behind the old? Will you choose to leave behind the repetitive unhealthy cycles in life that you’ve been battling in your own strength?

For he is our God. We are the people he watches over, the flock under his care. If only you would listen to his voice today!

Psalms 95:7 NLT

Pray with me:

Father God, We thank you that you are a loving God. No matter how many mistakes we make you are always there giving us another chance to surrender our hearts to you. Lord, forgive us today for our disobedience, and for the times we take our lives into our own hands and forget that you are our creator and that you know the beginning and the end. You go before us, and see all that we cannot and you protect us. Holy Spirit, convict our hearts today. Change us and remove any desires that are not from you. Father God, in this new year, may the desires of our heart be to grow closer to you and to surrender to the purpose that you created us for. We know that we are not fighting in the physical, but we fight against spiritual principalities, and demonic forces. This world is getting dark. I declare and decree that plans which the enemy has to destroy us and keep us bound in the darkness will be broken, in Jesus name. You have a choice. Tomorrow is not promised, so today in this new year I pray that you will choose breakthrough, choose change, and choose to follow Jesus and watch the amazing way he will transform your life. I am excited to see him do a new thing in mine. My prayer is that you will surrender and allow him to do the same in yours. In Jesus mighty name, I pray, Amen.

I can get through anything because;

  • God Formed me
  • God Created me
  • God Redeemed me
  • God Called me

Growing with you,

Sandy

Forgive Them, They don’t know any better…

Forgive Them, They don’t know any better…

by madepiecebypiece ♥ 2 Comments

There will come a time when we all will be hurt by someone. When this time comes, you must learn to forgive them. Some people just don’t know any better.

But how can they not know better? Well, they don’t realize that they’ve hurt you, because they are too consumed with themselves and what it is that they want. They are full of pride.

The Bible tells us that pride is the evil way.

The [reverent] fear and worshipful awe of the Lord includes the hatred of evil; Pride and arrogance and the evil way, And the perverted mouth, I hate.” - Proverbs 8:13 AMP

Forgiveness is hard, but it will release you from emotional ties to the person and to the situation. Forgiveness is your healing. It shifts the focus off of them and onto yourself.

Staying focused on them and what they did to hurt or offend will keep you in torture. Despising them will only keep you from your healing.

Keep them at a distance. Guard your heart. Set boundaries and pray for them. Is it hard to pray for those who hurt you? Yes!! But through God’s strength, you can, because his power is made perfect in our weakness!! (Read 2nd Corinthians 12:9).

When someone dismisses your value, disrespects you, or makes you feel invisible, Forgive them!! Pray for God to reveal his truth to them and open their eyes. Pray that he will cause them to realize their mistake and repent. Pray that they would accept salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ and choose to follow him.

Don’t dwell on the way they left you feeling. Trust that God has gone before you. He knew this would happen and he is redirecting you in order to protect you. The desires of our own hearts are generally not his best for us.

Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. - Psalm 37:4

Many people take this scripture (Psalm 37:4) out of context. I know that I have. There was a time when I read this and thought it meant, if I follow God he will give me the desires of my heart. But, as I grew in the Lord, I learned that my interpretation of this word was incorrect. It was not about what I wanted or desired. It was about God’s plans for me and what he wants for me.

When we “delight in the Lord” we have righteous desires. Delighting in the Lord means we are aligning ourselves with what God wants for us. And isn’t that far greater!? God is our protector and he knows what is best for us far more than we ever could imagine!

“Whoever goes to the Lord for safety, whoever remains under the protection of the Almighty, can say to him, “You are my defender and protector. You are my God; in you I trust.” He will keep you safe from all hidden dangers and from all deadly diseases. He will cover you with his wings; you will be safe in his care; his faithfulness will protect and defend you.”Psalm 91:1-4 GNTD

Father God, Thank you for loving us and protecting us. You are our refuge and we thank you for keeping us safe from the dangers that we do not see. Father you created us to love and fellowship with others, you created us for relationship. Father God, when we are left hurt or confused by others who cause us to feel unworthy, disrespected or just not enough, remind us that your plans are far greater than anything we could ever desire or imagine for ourselves. Help us to trust in you Lord. Change our hearts and our desires so that they are one in the same with what you want for us. Remove anything that is not from you from our lives and our paths. Lord, give us the strength to pray for those who hurt us, because we know that many times they are not aware of what they are doing. And in the times that they are aware, we know that they are far too weak to do the right thing. We thank you that our strength comes from you Lord. We know that we can do all things through your strength alone. Strengthen us so that we may always do that which is right, and that which is your will. Father, we thank you for your protection and for your redirection. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Growing with you, Sandy