Talking to God in Moments of weakness

March 17, 2024March 18, 2024 by madepiecebypiece ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I woke up feeling a little bit lonely today. But God put a message in front of me that reminded me I am not alone and Holy Spirit is with me at all times.

Life can get overwhelming and sometimes thinking of losses from our pasts causes feelings of heavy sadness. Sometimes fear or anxiety towards the future sets in and we worry about what is to come.

I know that I personally have so many blessings in front of me, yet sometimes I loose sight of them because I focus on fear of the future and on unknown wonders of how everything will work out. It is in these very moments that I have to push myself to pray and cry out to the Lord.

When fear sets in we are blinded and it can be very hard to see or recognize that we are being spiritually attacked mentally. So in these moments when you feel fearful, worrisome, emotionally overwhelmed, or when your heart is heavy, call on Jesus and speak with him. Prayer is just that, speaking with God.

During the times you can’t even find the strength to speak, know that it takes just the mention of his name to break off the strongholds binding your mind and spirit. Call upon on the Lord’s name. The is power in the name of Jesus!

When we call on the Lord, the atmosphere shifts, strongholds break and joy is found in his great love. Sometimes in order to break off whatever is bound up in your thoughts, you must cry out to God.

The Bible says that we must take every thought captive and make it obedient to Christ.

”casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”2 Corinthians 10:5 KJV

There is freedom when you do this. So, let us all be reminded today to trust in the Lord, and lay it all at his feet. Give those thoughts of fear, worry and anxiety to God and ask him to replace them with peace and comfort.

Have you heard the saying, “Joy comes in the morning?”. Well sometimes it doesn’t mean it’s coming literally the next morning, sometimes God allows us to hurt and be stretched for a season.

It can be hard to believe this but seasons of hurt and pain are not always bad. Seek to learn the purpose for why God is allowing your seasons of pain. Because when you come out on the other side of your season, you’re likely to going to see growth.

Sometimes he must allow suffering to happen to get us to our next level.

You may be thinking, I know God and even have brothers and sisters in Christ, but they aren’t showing up for me. I feel so alone. If that is you, know that even when you look around and see no one. Even when, you wonder why no one has called or looked for you. Even when you’ve reached out and sent calls or texts and found no one answering. Maybe it is that God is holding off their response back to you. You see, sometimes the Lord has to isolate you in order to reach you and for you to turn to him. He wants us to come to him first when we feel alone, heavy and weary.

I find that when my heart is most heavy, that is when God is knocking and seeking for me to listen. The Holy Spirit wants to speak, will you listen?

So when your heart feels heavy, spend time with God. Ask what he wants to reveal to you and what he wants you to see and learn from your season.

Let’s Pray:

Father God, In Jesus mighty name, we come to you today with our heavy hearts, and we lay them at your feet. We are battling loneliness. Lord, we are battling anxiety and fear Father God. For some minds are overwhelmed with fear of the future. Father God, we don’t always understand the purpose for the seasons of pain or loneliness or why you have us in them. But father God today we come to you, in Faith asking that you comfort us. Holy Spirit, we invite you in and ask you to fill our spirits. Father God, if the breaking is coming from you, if the longing is coming from you, we ask for you to reveal to us what it is, you want us to know and learn. Father some of us don’t know you, I ask that you would gently penetrate the hearts of those who have no relationship with your spirit. Holy Spirit light of fire in their soul, with a burning hunger and their that would bring them to call upon you. Comfort your people and do the work that only you can do. Cleanse their hearts and minds Oh Lord and bring restoration and uplifting in such a way that they will know that it was you. Father God, heal in such a way that you be glorified. I declare and decree that deliverance and freedom will be found at your feet today Oh God. Transform hearts and minds for your glory. May they continue to pray and seek your face during the tomes when fear, loneliness, and anxiety try to return. Father God, we know that you have a plan and a purpose for all lives, so I pray right now, in Jesus name that your word will be done throughout the world in such a way that would bring your people to your feet to bring you alone all glory. Plant seeds of faith oh God within your people. In Jesus name, I pray, Amen.

Growing with you, Sandy

Forget the Former

January 30, 2024January 31, 2024 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

Be Still, it’s not about you…

May 22, 2023 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

Show Yourself Kindness

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 by madepiecebypiece ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32

When you make a mistake, you must be kind to yourself, and give yourself the same grace you would allow another person. But for me, showing myself kindness is an area I personally know I need a lot of improvement in. I’m hard on myself when I make a mistake and I find it easier to forgive others than to forgive myself.

I am on a journey of healing, so this means, seeking to learn why forgiving myself and having grace for myself is so difficult.

When I make a mistake, I tend to call myself names, and sometimes those around me have heard it. I’ve called myself dumb, I’ve asked myself what is wrong with you, I’ve apologized to others, and I’ve spent hours stuck in mind battle trying to understand how I could make such a “stupid mistake”.

Let’s just say I treat myself worse than I would treat any other human being who has made a mistake. Even the simple ones. Being hard on myself can be because I hold myself to a higher standard than I hold others, or because I’ve had others say those very things to me. But no matter what the reasoning or source is, I’ve realized this is no longer acceptable and must change.

The Bible says our tongues hold the power of life and death (Proverbs 18:21), and while I try my best not to use my tongue to degrade others, sadly, I can’t say the same for the way I have used my words or thoughts towards myself.

Yesterday, I felt Holy Spirit speaking strong to me telling me, it’s time to begin changing this. This happened after making what I felt was a crazy & ridiculous mistake. I felt lead to spend time trying to understand why is it truly easier for me to forgive others over myself. I felt lead to ask myself: “Do you think they deserve forgiveness more than you do? And the answer was no. They most certainly did not deserve forgiveness more than I did. And, I was not any more unworthy than they were.

A man who is kind benefits himself, but a cruel man hurts himself.
Proverbs 12:17

When we apply this Bible verse inwardly, we learn that us being hard on ourselves, ultimately only hurts ourselves.

If you are someone who tries to practice showing kindness to others, why do you do it? Is it because you don’t like hurting others? Is it because you want to be seen as a good person? Is it because you know it is just morally or biblically wrong not to be kind to others?…These are some of the things I’ve had to self reflect on.

Why are some of us able to protect others, yet we have no personal boundaries set to protect ourselves from our very own self-directed insults?

We are human. We will all make mistakes.

The above statement is something I have been told many times from both friends and family members.

If you’re someone like me who is hard on yourself, try to remind yourself of this when your thoughts start to move in before you place yourself on trial. YOU ARE HUMAN, ALL HUMANS MAKE MISTAKES. Let’s remind ourselves that there was only one perfect man who walked earth, and that was our savior Jesus Christ.

Going forward may we learn to allow mistakes to be an opportunity for personal reflection and growth.

May we begin to cut off the insults instantly, before we allow them to take root in our minds and become in-planted lies we believe. Doing this will take discipline and will not come easy at first. However, I have committed myself to begin doing the work to get to the point where I will see myself through God’s eyes. Will you make this commitment to yourself with me today?

Love is patient and kind.
1 Corinthians 13:

Let’s loves ourselves and be patient and kind to ourselves.

Jesus calls us to be humble and put others before ourselves. But this doesn’t mean we are called not to be humble towards ourselves and it doesn’t mean be harder on ourselves allowing negative self thoughts to take root. We all are God’s children. Our lives are a gift. So let’s learn to recognize when we aren’t extending to ourselves the same grace which we extend to others.

I know I’ve got to do better and be a better example to my daughters. Because I would never want them being hard on themselves or unkind to themselves. If you can relate, please leave a comment or contact me directly and let me know!! My prayer is that you too would learn to show yourself kindness. 🙏

~Growing with you, Sandy

She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness
is on her tongue.
Proverbs 31:26

Pray with me:

Father God, we thank you for your love. For loving us even during the times we aren’t loving ourselves. Father forgive us for not seeing ourselves the way you see us. Forgive us for the word curses we have spoke over ourselves without knowing that was what we were doing. Give us wisdom so that kindness will begin to flow from our tongues. May kind thoughts of ourselves run through our minds. In Jesus name, I declare the word curses we placed over ourselves are now broken. I decree that we will begin to show ourselves the same grace, mercy and kindness we extend to others. Holy Spirit, I ask that you move in and heal the hearts, minds and spirits of your people. Father God, remind them who they are.

Brothers and sisters pray these words to God right now with me: I am smart and not dumb. I am wise and not stupid. A set back does not mean I am stuck in this place of disappointment. I will reflect on why the instance, circumstance or situation happened the way it did. And I will get back up and acknowledge my mistake and try again. Maybe that means rescheduling the meeting, budgeting better and redoing finances, studying harder and retaking the test, correcting an error and resubmitting the application, pick yourself up and try again!!

Father God, we thank you for Holy Spirit conviction and for reminding us we can learn from setbacks and mistakes. Holy Spirit,lead us on this journey. Lord Jesus, remind us to love and show kindness to ourselves in the same way you do to us. We know only you are able, in your mighty name we pray, Amen.

Forgive Them, They don’t know any better…

July 13, 2022July 13, 2022 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

Sometimes You have to Sit with Your Feelings

June 29, 2022June 29, 2022 by madepiecebypiece ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

We all have faced a time when something upset us and our feelings took over. When anger and frustration set in and we immediately wanted to tell “that person” a thing or two and give them a piece of our mind.

Reacting based on emotion may lead to saying things you will later regret.

Sometimes you just have to sit with your feelings. This is important to allow your mind time to process what happened. Identify how the occurrence left you feeling as you sit and allow your emotions to calm.

When the other person resorts to cursing you, insulting you and being hostile. You don’t have to respond.

“Fools vent their anger, but the wise quietly hold it back.” — Proverbs 29:11 NLT

Let go and allow God to fight.

Leave your troubles with the Lord, and he will defend you; he never lets honest people be defeated. — Psalm 55:22

Sit with your feelings and pray. Ask God to direct you.

“What I say is this: let the Spirit direct your lives, and you will not satisfy the desires of the human nature.” — Galatians 5:16 GNTD

Listen to worship music and praise God for all of your blessings. Shift the atmosphere from one of frustration into one of joy and praise. For God is good and he can turn your circumstances and situations around and use them for your personal growth.

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” — James 1:2-5 NLT

The next time you feel a need to defend yourself and react, leave it all in God’s hands!! He will work it all out for your good! Respond (only if you must) when you’re calm and allow yourself to be lead by the Spirit of the Lord and not by emotions.

Father God, I thank you for your love and for always there being there for us, protecting us, and ready to fight our battles when we call upon your mighty name. Lord, I lift up my brothers and sisters today who are in circumstances or situations which have their emotions heightened and going in every direction. Jesus in your name we come against anger, fear, frustration, sadness, and every negative emotion that is taking over their minds right now. Father, give them peace that only you can give and remind them Lord to take time to calm & pray, leaving things at your feet. Lead them Oh Father to respond according to your will and not their own. We know that you go before us and that you are fighting for us. So Lord, give them strength to call upon your name and lead them to respond with words that will not cause harm or pierce the heart of another. We know that you work things out for the good of those who love you, so we give you thanks father God in advance because we know that you will make a way and that you work their situations out. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Growing with you,

Sandy

Brighter Days are Coming

June 14, 2022June 15, 2022 by madepiecebypiece ♥ 2 Comments

Some of my friends and family members are in a storm right now or are walking through a valley wondering how to get out. They’re feeling down, hurt, angry and confused, and tomorrow’s outcome is uncertain. It hurts me to see them hurting, but if I’m honest, I can certainly relate because I too have days when I feel as though I am in a valley.

When we are in dark places dealing with conflict and struggle, we just want resolution and clarity so that we can see through the mess and feel secure or safe again.

When we are in these low places, that is when we must seek God the most. Our dark days are for a season, they will not last forever if we seek the Lord. Through God’s strength we can overcome. It may be hard to see it now, but brighter days are ahead when you allow God in and let him lead.

God uses our dark places to prepare and grow us. Although we feel like we are alone in the dark, we are not. God’s love will always find us in our darkest places and in our deepest pain.

In the Bible, God used Esther to help free his people. She was an orphan who felt abandoned and unworthy, but God still had purpose for her. She was appointed the queen of Persia. As queen she was faced with a tough decision that could cost the lives of both her and her people, the Jews. But she chose to risk her own life to tell her husband the king, about his Persian official Harmon’s evil plan to destroy all Jews, which included her his wife and Mordecai, her uncle who once saved his life. She revealed to her husband the king for the very first time that she and her uncle were both Jewish. She took this risk knowing that it was against the law to come before the king uninvited, accepting that it could result in her own death.

Through the book of Esther in the Bible, We learn that although God does not always seem present, he is always there with his people in their darkness and will never abandon them. It shows us God’s commitment to redeem his people. It also shows us that God appointed Esther in her position, “for such a time as this”, meaning God accomplished his purpose through Esther during that appointed time.

God also used Paul through darkness. He made Paul blind for three days and allowed him to sit unable to see, wondering whether he had lost his sight forever. Sitting in that dark place changed him and he found breakthrough.

Paul needed to loose his sight in order to stop viewing things in his old ways, otherwise, he would have never seen God in a new light. When he changed the way he viewed Christ, his sight was restored. Paul went from being a man who chased wealth and power into a man of faith. Had he not been put through darkness he would have never become a follower of Christ nor one of the 12 Apostles, spreading the gospel of Christ.

Acts 9:18 — Instantly something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he got up and was baptized.

When we are sitting in darkness it does not mean that we will stay there. God is at work behind the scenes. He uses darkness to get our attention, transform us and re-direct us.

So if you’re in a place feeling down, lonely, depressed, overwhelmed or struggling and are wondering why life is going the way it is for you, have faith and trust that God has a plan and brighter days are coming!

This song has been replay in my car for the past two weeks. It has kept me encouraged and uplifted and I pray that it will do the same for you!

Father God, We thank you that you are a God of redemption and that you give second chances to us. Father, tonight there are many people that are hurting, and in need of solutions to the struggles and issues that life has brought them. Lord, you are our savior and our deliverer. I pray tonight that you would reveal yourself to all who are hurting and in a dark place. Father God, meet them right there in their darkness and show them love in the mist of their pain. Transform their hearts oh God, and set a fire in their soul so that they would thirst and hunger to know you and draw closer to you on a daily basis. Father, we know that we were all created with a plan and a purpose and that you turn around what the enemy has meant for evil. You turn all evil and all bad things around for the good of those who love you. Father God, show up for your people and hear their cries Lord Jesus. I pray for the conviction of the Holy Spirit to fall upon them and that they would repent and seek to live a life chasing after your love only. This world is a dark place Father, change hearts, Lord Jesus brake chains, and cause your people to surrender to the life they were meant to live. You are a God of love, I pray that all those hurting will see the light that you are shining into their darkness and reach out for your unfailing love. In Jesus mighty name I pray, Amen

Growing with you,

Sandy