Current Mood: Anointed & Blessed & Delivered & Radical & Still-Standing

“Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14 NIV

I have no regrets about the things I’ve experienced in 2009, both good and bad, because in every single thing, a lesson was learned and growth emerged.   This year brought a lot of pruning and a lot of crushing; both of which increased the level of humility, thankfulness and determination within me.  With every loss, I gained a clearer perspective and with every crushing I got to see what was really within me: the good, the bad and the ugly.  In all in all, I learned two very important things:

1)      I truly love God with everything I have and everything I am;

2)      I truly trust Him.

Have you ever wondered what was really in your heart?  It’s real easy to say you love the Lord and trust Him when you have your basic needs met, good health and not facing any extreme circumstances; but have you ever wondered would you feel the same if all of these were taken from you?  Would you still bless the Lord if it seemed like serving Him yielded no profit?  Well, for me, I never have to wonder that.  I’ve had a “Job Experience” not too long ago, having several major calamities befall me within a 24 hour span.  I was in a state of shock, then devastation and then that turned into anger and later despair; for What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me (Job 3:25).  What I experienced was the very thing I dreaded most, which used to be the fear that motivated me to becoming an over-achiever.   It was that very thing that I worked so hard to avoid from happening, and now it happened. 

I don’t know if many will admit to this, but I think many people have a “thing” that they wonder if they’ll be able to recover from or maybe it’ll be the one thing that’ll push them over the edge.  Well, it was “that thing” for me that happened, and at first, I was as Job describes in 3:26, “I have no peace, no quietness; I have no rest, but only turmoil.”  This happened after the numbness subsided.  Then later, a great anger came with darkness lurking in the background; as it is especially these moments that the enemy hopes to gain influence and advantage over you.  I was fighting for my mind and for my life.  My children were doubly concerned; concerned with the matter as well as concerned for me.   I admit that even I was concerned for me.  You see, the heart of me wanted to get past this with a greater faith and with the attitude of Christ, but I didn’t know how that was going to happen since I had so much anger.  However, something began to shift the atmosphere and my mind around the 7^th day.  I began to feel, sense and see the results from the praying saints.  All of a sudden, my mind began to get clearer and there was no more anger, just gratefulness, reverence and deep-abiding love.  This is why I vehemently tell you that nobody, absolutely nobody, can tell me that the prayers of the righteous doesn’t avail much, because IT DOES!  The prayer of the righteous releases tremendous power and that power begins to change things.  Don’t EVER discount prayer!

So as I look back over 2009 I see how God used circumstances to grow me, stretch me, prune me, crush me and elevate me through humility.  I learned that you NEVER reach “it” because when you think you’re there, God takes you to a higher level and that level challenges what you thought you already knew.  As a result, that will bring about either you giving up or humility, which the latter is the desired result.  I learned that God brings you to different levels; once you’ve passed level one, He then brings you up to the next level—and so on and so on.  It will never stop until the day you’re face to face with Christ.  NO ONE EVER reaches the point where “they’ve arrived”, and if you ever think you have, prepare for a great fall; for the Bible says, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).  The best alternative is to fear the Lord and have a spirit of humility, which brings forth God’s grace, wealth, honor and life (Proverbs 3:34, 22:4). 

As I close-out this year and go into the New Year, I will go with a steadfast mindset to actively pursue: 

1)      Immersing myself in the love of God and sharing it with others;

2)      Giving more, blessing more and loving more;

3)      Crucifying my flesh (and even that has levels);

4)      My God-given destiny;

5)      More humility;

6)      God’s glory.

I may leave out of this year with several battle wounds and scars but definitely no regrets!  2010 is the time to win and I will certainly enter the New Year with that mindset.

To God be ALL the Glory!

God bless!

© 2009, Ms. Lady Nai. All rights reserved. A part of Shekinah Glory Outreach Ministries International