WHERE I FIND UNDERSTANDING

BEING PRAYERFUL FOR OTHERS

PRIORITIZING 101

I want to share an easy to understand, but difficult-to-implement concept that is guaranteed to change how, and even when, you conduct your daily activities. 

"Fit my day into my time and attention with the Father, not trying to fit Father into my day"

I wake up with every intention of making room for Father's agenda to rule the day, but all too often life imposes its demands on the day, and I end up giving in to these demands. 

By placing my time and attention on my relationship with Father God, and my fellowship with Jesus throughout the day, I actually get the sense that I have spent my day with purpose, and am honestly content with its outcome.

This investment in our spiritual and mental health doesn't come easy.

The "flesh" - our old corrupt nature without Christ - resists the execution of this concept. So get ready for a fierce bare-knuckle fight to the death.

Our flesh is conditioned to be responsive to the things that are "urgent", not the things that are "important"; the easy, not the difficult; the immediately gratifying, not things that requires self-denial. 

Fitting the day into our time with Father is going to take some discipline on your part. We're going to have to get "medieval" with the flesh, and resolve in ourselves that we refuse to squander another day running on that "hamster wheel"- doing a whole lot of running, but going absolutely nowhere. Never again being satisfied with accomplishing the frivolous, superficial and vain.

The  flesh and the spirit - by feeding one, we starve the other. By doing exactly what the flesh does not want (that is to put the things of God - the important things- first), we deprive it of it's life controlling power.

The flesh is afraid that we will start thinking, acting and talking like our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.

It will die, its control broken! Hallelujah!!

Matthew 6:33 MSG
Steep your life in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. Don't worry about missing out. You'll find all your everyday human concerns will be met.

REAL COPING SKILLS

As a result of my years of work and experience as a mental health recovery specialist and minister, I felt that effective coping skills needed to be more than just changing one's  mental focus to enable them to manage their emotional/psychological drama.

Many people use a variety of unhealthy coping skills that enable them to "tread water" until;

• the flood of their emotional crisis subsides,
• someone comes along and pulls them out to safety,
• or until they succumb to the exhaustion of treading water for so long.

Their ability to cope is measured by how long they can continue to "keep their head above water".

For most of my life, my coping skills were just as flawed.

My default was to go into what I call my "Crisis Mode". Crisis Mode is the act of making myself emotionally numb.

This was supposed to insulate me from having to experince hurt or distress.

If I cant feel it, it can't hurt me.

The problem with this strategy was that the emotions eventually burned through my insulation. They leaked or exploded all around me, hurting not only myself, but my marriage and family relationships.

I've since learned that I had to master the biblical coping skills that Father devised.

Prayer with, and to Him

It's through my communion with the Father, and honestly sharing my hurts and cares with Him, that enables me to;

• Adapt to circumstances I cant control.
• Allow Him to take me "through" my emotional experiences instead of avoiding them.
• Overcome negative emotional reactions.
• Use them to promote my spiritual growth and development. 

Philippians 4:6-7 MSG
Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.

THE PRAYER OF FAITH

1 Samuel 1:10-18 NLT
Hannah was in deep anguish, crying bitterly as she prayed to the Lord. And she made this vow: "O Lord of Heaven's Armies, if you will look upon my sorrow and answer my prayer and give me a son, then I will give him back to you. He will be yours for his entire lifetime, and as a sign that he has been dedicated to the Lord, his hair will never be cut." As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking. "Must you come here drunk?" he demanded. "Throw away your wine!" "Oh no, sir!" she replied. "I haven't been drinking wine or anything stronger. But I am very discouraged, and I was pouring out my heart to the Lord. Don't think I am a wicked woman! For I have been praying out of great anguish and sorrow." "In that case," Eli said, "go in peace! May the God of Israel grant the request you have asked of him." "Oh, thank you, sir!" she exclaimed. Then she went back and began to eat again, and she was no longer sad.

1. Hannah walked away with total confidence that God not only heard her, but that her request was granted.
2. She put off her sadness and resumed her life as usual.
3. She did not see the need to ask again.

The result was the supernatural birth of "God's man", the prophet and judge, Samuel; whom God raised up to restore the spiritual integrity of the priesthood.

The Awesome Power Behind the Faith and Integrity of a Godly Mother!

DAVIDIC WARRIOR TRAINING CONCEPTS PART 2

Shepherding Training 
Training Objective: Disciplined in the awareness of God's faithfulness, building relationship through intimate time in prayer; cooperating with God's development process, development and practice of God's protective and leadership skills.

Please observe the following training points:

• While shepherding as a boy, David learned how to take advantage of the enormous amounts of "alone time" associated with the care of his sheep..

• I personally don't believe David knew how to be alone by himself, but he did know how to be alone with God. This was his practice, his discipline, everyday, all day.

• God testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.' Acts13:22. David's loyalty and obedience to God made him exceptional. 

• David did not seem to have an agenda, other then his relationship with God.

• He was teachable. David was able to understand and learn God's correlation between; shepherding, and God's nature.

 

• David seemed to realize who he was as a servant of God. It appears to me that this is where he found his identity. 

• David's life was heavily influenced by his awareness of God's commitment to love and to care for him.

• He learned by experience, how to surrender to Father's love, power and care.

Psalms 23:1-6 NLT
The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name. Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me. You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings. Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.