Seasons of Life - Enter Into God's Rest

Rest In God

For some of you it's time to enter Gods rest and let your season run it's course. The previous posts required action because faith without works is dead. Once you've done all that has been required of you, it's time to rest. We get so accustomed to "doing" we unknowingly enter into religious works of the flesh. In other words, we interfere with what God's trying to accomplish in and through us by constantly doing "spiritual acts" we hope will please God and quickly bring closure to our season. This shows a lack of faith because we're fearful of what the outcome will be.

I know this because I've done it. God used to let me get over with moving in works of the flesh because maturing in Christ is a process. Not this season. Gods like, "You're gonna learn today!' The more I kept moving in works, the more frustrated I became because it seemed like nothing was changing. This was new for me. I was used to doing certain things and watching God move.. Nope.. God would not budge until I entered his rest. We have to remember it's "not by our might, not by our power, but by the Spirit of The Lord God Almighty." (Zechariah 4:6)

Even though I still felt like I was in a raging storm, God kept telling me to rest! rejoice! Believe! Don't worry! (Don't worry are His favorite words to me). He said the victory has been won! I'm like really Lord? This doesn't look, sound or feel good. Well, it doesn't matter what it looks like or feels like. It doesn't matter if what's being said seems to contradict the promise of God, sit down and rest! God is in control.

Webster's Dictionary 1828 definition of rest: A body is at rest when it ceases to move; the mind is at rest when it ceases to be disturbed or agitated. Powerful!!

The Bible's definition of entering Gods rest: For anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his." (Hebrews 4:10) God created the world in 6 days then he rested on the 7th. He knew that everything he spoke into existence would manifest.

Same with you! You've repented, prayed, fasted, decreed, gave extra offerings lol! You've done all you know to do now it's time to rest.

It's going to be hard to not do anything. It was a struggle for me. If things didn't seem to change at the pace I thought it should, I would panic, go into fear mode and revert to my old religious works.Thank God for spiritual mentors and a wonderful husband who encouraged me through the process and admonished me to stop!! and rest. 

God is so good. He was with me every step of the way as He will be with you. God is so cool and creative. He would step in from time to time and remind me of his favorite words to me. I remember sitting on a crowded train one morning heading to work. I allowed my mind to have its way and I began to stress and worry about what I was dealing with. It got to the point where I was about to snap, crackle, pop and have a melt down. I dragged myself off of the train to connect to another train. As I stepped onto the platform, a subway musician was singing these lyrics:

Don't worry

about a thing

cause every little thing

is gonna be alright

This is my message to you!

I'm like ok God I hear you. Thank you for that message. Maybe the lyrics are encouraging you right now. Nothing is to big for our God to handle. In fact, in God's eyes the things we worry and stress over are just "little things." So don't worry, just rest.

HOW TO REST IN GOD   

STOP WORRYING: Worry robs you of your peace and joy. Begin disciplining your mind by trying your best to see things the way God sees them. The bible says, "Finally, brothers and sisters. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise" (Philippians 4:8)

STOP DOING WORKS: Stop trying to make something happen or change. God is in control. When you start to feel afraid, say I trust you God and speak his promises. Stay away from negative people and negative speech. Encourage yourself with God's word, and soak in his presence through praise and worship music. You may feel like you want to crumble and you probably will, get back up and do it again. Remember, learning to surrender and rest in God is a process.

HAVE FAITH IN GOD: Without faith it is impossible to please God and we want to please God right? Trust that God has your life in the palm of His hands and He wants nothing but the best for you. Believe that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, for those who are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). If God allowed you to go through a season there is a purpose in it. Believe that God will see you through it. 

As you and I let our season run its course, Let's give Jesus the wheel so we can rest and emerge full of faith and Godly character ready to fulfill the purpose for which we were created.

Blessings,

Tytenisha

Seasons of Life - Prayer and Fasting

Prayer and Fasting

Prayer:

No matter what season you're in you should be praying. The bible says, "Pray without ceasing" (1 Thessalonians 5:17). Prayer is a necessity for daily living, especially for the crazy times we are living in. We need God's protection, discernment and wisdom. You can pray anywhere at any time, that's the beauty of prayer. I think we also forget that there is power in our prayers! The bible says, "The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much" (James 5:16). The question is how should you pray when going through difficult seasons? 

Sometimes we have no clue what we should be praying when going through difficult seasons. We are quick to pray prayers that come from our hurt and pain because we don't understand what's going on and we want it to be over with. Many times our prayers are not answered right away because we pray incorrectly. When you are going through difficult seasons you want to pray the will of God. Trust me, I know whatever you are going through hurts like hell. All you want is for God to remove the pain and change the situation ASAP! But is that the type of prayer God is looking for? Most times the painful, challenging seasons you face will be to strengthen you in certain areas, build your faith, and develop Godly fruit such as patience, love, self-control and more. Click on more. God has a purpose for your life. Every season you experience, good or difficult - will not go to waste.

As you spend time with God reading and meditating on his word, the Lord will open your eyes and allow you to understand the season that you're in. Once you understand what is taking place in your life, you will know how to approach God in prayer. Your prayer will no longer be, God take this away from me! Your prayer will be, Yes Lord, have your way in me, I trust you, order my steps, I can do nothing without you. Then you will start to take whatever actions needed to move you through that season. 

When the Lord revealed to me what I was dealing with in the area of spiritual warfare, I needed God to fight my battle therefore I needed to pray accordingly. I could not pray sad pitiful prayers anymore. I began to pray your will be done Lord, not mine. I prayed for wisdom to handle things God's way. I prayed and spoke God's word with boldness. I had to move from fear to faith; that was and still is a process. I cried more tears than you could ever imagine. I cried at work, on the train, at my kids’ sports activities - but through the tears and through the fear I still took action! I used the authority Jesus gave me and began to rebuke and trample over snakes and serpents, in His name. I prophesied and declared those things that were not, as though they were - in Jesus’ name. I worshiped and praised God as I watched him fight my battle. When you pray the will of the Father and trust that he will not forsake you, the end result will always be more awesome than what you could have hoped for or accomplished yourself.

I want to share really quickly on praying in tongues. For those of you who do not speak in tongues, speaking and praying in tongues is not a requirement for getting your prayers answered. It's another wonderful way to communicate with the Lord especially when you run out of words to say in your native tongue. Don't feel bad if you can't speak in tongues, just ask the Father for it and when He's ready for it to manifest in your life it will. 

I love to sing and pray in tongues. My spirit enjoys it. After I've prayed for everything under the sun and that lasts about a good fifteen minutes, I'm like ok - what do I pray for now? The bible says,

The Holy Spirit helps us in our weaknesses. For example, we don't know what God wants us to pray for, but the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words. The father who knows all hearts knows what the Spirit pleads for us believers in harmony with God's own will.

- Romans 8:26 

 

The Holy Spirit knows exactly what to say to our heavenly Father. When you pray in tongues, you don't have to feel like, oh I forgot to mention this or that to God. The Holy Spirit searches the secret places of your heart and mind and the Lord gets to know all about the things that concern you. Not only are we able to express our concerns to God through tongues, in return our Spirit man is edified by the Lord. You may not have a clue as to what you prayed about or what the Lord said to you but your Spirit does. Once your Spirit receives instruction from the Lord He will guide you in every step you need to take. Overall you will feel strengthened, encouraged and ready to face the season you are in.

 

Fasting:

Is not this the fast that I have chosen? To loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?

- Isaiah 56:6

 

There are various reasons why people fast. A fast can be taken for sanctification, to get your prayers heard on high and to break the chains of spiritual wickedness. Fasting and prayer coupled together can be powerful and very effective, but your motives must be right. Is there a purpose to your fast? What are you looking for God to do? If what you are praying and fasting for is going to benefit the Kingdom of God, the Lord just might answer your prayer. If you are going through a challenging season and you feel compelled to fast, then you should. Every believer will fast at some point in their walk with Christ. If you are experiencing a situation that is evil, wicked and demonic you NEED to fast. Jesus said, "This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting" (Matthew 17:21). Prayer and fasting are spiritual weapons that God has provided for us to use, and I can tell you personally, they work! The length and type of fast to take is up to you and God. A true biblical fast is 24 hours no food, no water. I purchased this book God's Chosen Fast in 2006 and I still refer to it today. It's a very informative book on fasting. Click on the link, you may find the information in this book helpful to you. 

I will leave you with these two scriptures from Jesus with a promise attached:

When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. - Matthew 6:5-6

Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. - Matthew 6:16-18

Could the reward Jesus is talking about be answered prayer? hmmmmm...

 

Next post, Enter Into God's Rest!

 

Blessings,

Tytenisha

 

 

Seasons of Life - God Requires Obedience!

God Requires Obedience!

Even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered.

-Hebrews 5:8

Now that Gods got your attention, what is he personally requiring of you? As I shared in the previous post God Wants your Attention! God told me to stop doing a certain thing that I enjoyed doing. What I enjoyed doing was not sinful but not beneficial either. God used the affliction I suffered in my body to drive me to my knees so that I could be in a position to listen to God and obey his commands. God doesn't tell us to do things for no reason. The Lord was preparing me for the greater issue at hand, the true battle I had to face. 

In order to be victorious in whatever season you're in or whatever battle you're facing, you need to be clean. God was cleaning my house of anything that would hinder victory and it starts with obedience. Everyone wants to be victorious but we need to be clean vessels that God can work through. We have to walk in obedience and we have to follow God's commands. I soon began to see that I was facing a vicious spiritual battle for someone that I love. I began to pray fervently crying out to God morning, noon and night. Following that fervent prayer I received this dream:

I was sitting in a class room with other students. There was a huge mirror at the front of the class leaning against the desk as if it were the teacher. The mirror was dirty, spotted and streaked. I could see myself in the mirror from where I was sitting. I said to the lady in front of me, "Eww, that mirror is dirty"! She agreed and said, "You better believe that WILL be cleaned."

God is so gracious. It took me about a week to understand what God was saying in the dream. The Lord said, "This mirror is a reflection of you and many others. You are spotted and streaked just like the person you are praying for". I knew exactly what the Lord was talking about. There was unconfessed sin I needed to deal with. I quickly and sincerely asked God for forgiveness and thanked him for bringing those areas to my remembrance. I read PSALM 51 out loud several times to express to God how sorry I was. Side note: I did not commit the sin King David committed in psalm 51. I love how King David expressed remorse for the sin he committed.   

If you are facing a wilderness season, dry season or a spiritual battle - especially if the battle you're facing is for someone else because the Lord has placed that burden upon you - It is very important for you to examine yourself. The same issue that the person you are praying for may be an issue of your own and you won't see victory until that issue is taken care of. Make sure there are no open doors in your life that will hinder your prayers. 

It's very important to acknowledge unconfessed sin and ask for forgiveness. It will hinder your prayers. The bible says," But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness" (1 John 1:9). Ask God to reveal the issue/s that you need to confess, confront, change or stop doing altogether. 

Another area that God deals with us in is un-forgiveness. Un-forgiveness will hinder answered prayer. If you forgive those who sin against you, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you refuse to forgive others, your Father will not forgive your sins. - Matthew 6:14-15

Wow! If you don't forgive, God will not forgive you!" That's serious stuff. We need God's forgiveness every day! Forgiveness is a process but it is imperative that at some point we forgive.

So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God"  - Matthew 5:23

Is there is a relationship you need to reconcile? Don't delay in doing it. It doesn't matter who is right or wrong. Make things right with your brother or sister so you're not left to wander around in the season you're in. You don't have to be best friends with the person/s but you do have to love them. Oh, and pray for them too! I didn't say it, Jesus said it. 

God is loving, gracious, merciful, compassionate and extremely patient. God gives us plenty of time and space to just be. When God is ready for you to come out of that space he will begin to speak to you and you need to respond. It may be a specific command from the Lord, maybe you need to confront unconfessed sin or maybe you need to forgive someone that caused you pain. Whatever it is, be obedient to what God is asking you to do.

God is not a tyrant who roams around seeking perfection. He's looking for broken and contrite hearts. This means he wants you to desire righteousness and a spirit of humility. He wants you to walk in holiness and separate yourself from the world. He wants you to be free from the clutches of the enemy who has had a hold on certain areas of your life. God wants you to be everything He has called and purposed for you to be! You will get through this! You are more than a conqueror, you are victorious! Search your heart and ask God to remove anything in you that is not like him. Here is a great scripture to pray for God to reveal those hidden sins in our hearts.

Search me, O God and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there be any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.  

- Psalm 139:23-24

 

Next post will be on Prayer and Fasting

Blessings,

Tytenisha

 

 

Seasons of Life - God Wants Your Attention!

 

God Wants Your Attention!

But by means of their suffering, he rescues those who suffer. For he gets their attention through adversity -Job 36:15

I'm sure you've heard some say 2014 is your year of jubilee, miracles or even double blessings! I too feel that 2014 is a special year. One of the things I've learned in my walk with Christ is, if you are a Christian with a call on your life, your breakthrough or next level appointing will come with a price. Many people entered 2014 receiving breakthroughs and blessings upon blessings. Many entered into a wilderness season scratching their heads like, "God what are you doing"? Some people as I write are entering a dry season or a season of spiritual warfare. You might even be experiencing all three. 

 

• Wilderness season is when you feel alone, lost and confused about what's going on in your life and you can't seem to move forward. 


• Dry season is when there seems to be no open doors, no breakthroughs, your prayers seem to bounce off the walls and everything is dried up. 


• Spiritual warfare is when the enemy attacks God's children or tries to take something away that was promised or spoken to you by God. It's a supernatural battle that takes place between God and principalities and spiritual wickedness in high places. Your role is to put on the Armor of God and stand firm until victory is won. 

I will be writing a series of posts sharing my personal experiences entering 2014 and what The Lord revealed to me. One evening (while in the middle of my season) during my time of prayer and reading the bible, I asked the Lord, "Why do I feel so alone"? As I continued reading - this passage of scripture lifted off of the pages for me to see:

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, It remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels - a plentiful harvest of new lives. 

-John 12:24

God explained to me exactly what was taking place in my life through this scripture. Every believer with a call on their life will enter a wilderness season, dry season and a time of spiritual warfare. It's a process you have to go through in order for your life to be powerful, fruitful and effective not just for yourself but for OTHERS. Your calling or purpose in life will benefit from this spiritual death. When all is said and done you will have developed humility, great character and unbelievable faith in God which will sustain you in whatever the Lord has called you to do. 

 

God got my attention: 

One morning in December 2013, I awoke with numbness in my left arm and tingling in my feet. I experienced this a couple of years prior and I knew what to do - so I thought. I inhaled a couple of Aleve pills and went on my merry way. After a couple of days, it didn't get any better. I gobbled a few more pills and decided to relax by getting a five-minute massage from the massage chair in my home. The balls in the chair were extremely hard and raced up and down my back kneading me in certain areas. It hurt like crazy but I didn't think anything of it because I've sat in that chair many times before.

A week later I still had numbness and tingling on my left side but now it was starting to affect my right side. From top to bottom, my back was starting to hurt. I whipped out a book I had purchased several years ago but never read called "The Makers Diet." I read the book from cover to cover in about a week. I really don't know why I pulled that book out but it blessed me tremendously. The author who is a Christian shared how he spent thousands of dollars searching for a cure for his chronic Krohns disease in addition to all kinds of infirmity in his body. He was sent home to die but his faith in God and the changing of his diet (God's diet) healed him completely. I was very inspired by his story and decided to change my eating habits and follow the plans in his book. There was a healing prayer that you would say in the morning and in the evening as you followed the plan. This led to me spending time with God in prayer. Prayer means everything to me but I had slacked in this area for a while.

Things were not getting better and I refused to go to the hospital. I was going to trust God to heal me through prayer. Hands and oil were slapped on me by my husband, children, parents, brother and sister n law, I even stood in the prayer line at church! There was no healing and no relief. My whole entire body was inflicted with pain and nerve issues. The pain was so excruciating I ended up in the emergency room. The doctors said it was a pulled muscle and sent me home to inhale all kinds of drugs. After that, I was in and out of the hospital. I researched my symptoms for my lower back pain and realized I was suffering from Sciatica. I visited a spine clinic for my upper back and neck because it was affecting the nerves in my arms, face and head. I was diagnosed with cervical sprain. All of this from a stinking massage chair that I've sat in several times? This was not normal. I began to wonder if something spiritual was going on here. The pain was so great that it literally drove me to my knees.

 

I began to cry out to God for healing. I began to spend quality time in God's word again. I was in God's face day and night praying. My kids were like, "Mommy are you going to pray again?" Yup! After a while, I realized I was right where the Father wanted me to be. God wanted my attention. As I cried out to God I asked, "What am I doing wrong? What do I need to change?" Immediately the Holy Spirit told me to give up a particular thing that I enjoyed. That same night, the thing I was told to give up was confirmed in a dream. Without hesitation, I gave it up. The bible says, "I have the right to do anything but not everything is beneficial" (Corinthians 6:12). God definitely wanted a sacrifice from me and wanted to know if I'd obey his command. Had I not been obedient to what God asked of me, it could have negatively affected what I was going to experience in the coming months. All I knew was God wanted my time and attention and He got it. I was so desperate for relief I told God whatever he wanted me to do, I'll do - thus the journey began.

Are you in a wilderness season or a dry season? Are you battling spiritual warfare? Have you tried everything you know to do and nothing seems to work? Give God your undivided attention! Seek his face and cry out to him. Ask him what is going on and if there is something he wants to speak to you about. Ask him if there is something he wants you to change. God will speak to you in that still small voice, through the bible and in many other unique ways. You just need to pay attention and listen. Once you know what God wants from you, act on it immediately. Delay is disobedience. The quicker you obey God's commands the quicker you will move through the season you're in.

 

The next post will be on Obedience.

Blessings,

Tytenisha