The Aftermath of the Storm
What do you do after the storm? When the storm hits in life all we can do is hold on, doing whatever it takes to survive. But what about after the storm? In Florida we have hurricanes and while I was in Texas two came barreling through Orlando. I saw the news reports and saw all of the devastation.You look around and see this mess left behind. Sometimes life brings storms and you turn around and your life is not what you expected it to be. Where your dreams are shattered around you and it seems like all is lost. When you are not where you thought you would be.. when life happens and it isn't the way you believed it would be. When you prayed and fasted and believed the Word but it did not turn out the way you wanted it to be. When that love one dies, your spouse walks away, you lose your job, or you lose the house, or the car and you are wrecked!
I wonder if this is how the disciples felt after Jesus was crucified. They had all of these lofty dreams and pictured an entirely different result than what had just happened. Had Jesus really died? The one who calmed the waves and wind? The one who healed the sick? And raised Lazarus from the dead? The one who came to save the world? Their lives where messed up by the plan of God.
We are taught in the charismatic movement that faith moves mountains, that we can speak and the mountain will move. But what happens when that mountain is part of God's plan. Did Job not have faith when all of his children were killed and he lost everything in a day? Did Joseph not have faith when he was falsely accused and thrown in prison? Sometimes storms come and it is exactly what God had in mind. Who are we to question God? How can I say, " Lord, I am yours, not my will but Yours!" And then get angry because He takes me where I don't want to go? Do I really believe that He knows best? Even more so, how do we treat those around us that are going through the wilderness? Do we judge their faith? Do we turn our backs on them assuming they are in sin? God have mercy.
One thing about fasting for me, is that it brings correction from the Lord. I remember hearing the Lord say to me, "when are you going to stop being mad at me?" And I responded, "What do you mean? I'm not mad at you.." And then God began to show me my heart. You see, my life was wrecked a few years ago and when my hand was forced and I ended up in Atlanta I was furious at God. That isn't the way I had planned it. I never foresaw moving to Atlanta back in my future. But more than that my faith was shaken. I had believed God for all of these things, had given above and beyond my tithe, I had been speaking the word and praying. I was praying for people and God was healing them, my gifts were overflowing and then BAM! It was all taken away and I landed in the wilderness. Confused, angry and shaken.
I never stopped going to church, but my prayer life wasn't the same. I had erected a wall against God and I no longer trusted Him. And secretly was angry at him, not full blown like it had been just a remnant. Still there. But more than the anger - the feeling of betrayal, I felt like God had let me down. And honestly, I did not know how to move past it.
We make so many plans as Christians, and we tell God what to do and then pray." God your will be done." Can the clay turn to the potter and say,"Why did you make me this way?" Rom 9:18-22
Do you know through all of Job's troubles he never became angry at God? His response to one person In Job 2:10 "But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Can we say the same? I know I can't.
I wonder if this is how the disciples felt after Jesus was crucified. They had all of these lofty dreams and pictured an entirely different result than what had just happened. Had Jesus really died? The one who calmed the waves and wind? The one who healed the sick? And raised Lazarus from the dead? The one who came to save the world? Their lives where messed up by the plan of God.
We are taught in the charismatic movement that faith moves mountains, that we can speak and the mountain will move. But what happens when that mountain is part of God's plan. Did Job not have faith when all of his children were killed and he lost everything in a day? Did Joseph not have faith when he was falsely accused and thrown in prison? Sometimes storms come and it is exactly what God had in mind. Who are we to question God? How can I say, " Lord, I am yours, not my will but Yours!" And then get angry because He takes me where I don't want to go? Do I really believe that He knows best? Even more so, how do we treat those around us that are going through the wilderness? Do we judge their faith? Do we turn our backs on them assuming they are in sin? God have mercy.
One thing about fasting for me, is that it brings correction from the Lord. I remember hearing the Lord say to me, "when are you going to stop being mad at me?" And I responded, "What do you mean? I'm not mad at you.." And then God began to show me my heart. You see, my life was wrecked a few years ago and when my hand was forced and I ended up in Atlanta I was furious at God. That isn't the way I had planned it. I never foresaw moving to Atlanta back in my future. But more than that my faith was shaken. I had believed God for all of these things, had given above and beyond my tithe, I had been speaking the word and praying. I was praying for people and God was healing them, my gifts were overflowing and then BAM! It was all taken away and I landed in the wilderness. Confused, angry and shaken.
I never stopped going to church, but my prayer life wasn't the same. I had erected a wall against God and I no longer trusted Him. And secretly was angry at him, not full blown like it had been just a remnant. Still there. But more than the anger - the feeling of betrayal, I felt like God had let me down. And honestly, I did not know how to move past it.
We make so many plans as Christians, and we tell God what to do and then pray." God your will be done." Can the clay turn to the potter and say,"Why did you make me this way?" Rom 9:18-22
Do you know through all of Job's troubles he never became angry at God? His response to one person In Job 2:10 "But he said to her, “You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?” In all this Job did not sin with his lips. Can we say the same? I know I can't.
I had already begun to seek the Lord again, so many tests, so many crazy things have happened since we got to Atlanta. But I honestly didn't think I was still mad at God. I knew my prayers, for months, had felt like they were bouncing off the walls and not going anywhere.
Then we started this 21 day fast, and Larry and have done this every year we have been married. I didn't even put much effort in the last one. I did the food part of the Daniel fast last year, but I didn't pray more than usual or even really go after God. This one was different, and I knew it in my spirit. Maybe because I had already started trying to press into God.
I repented of much during this 21 days fast, I needed an attitude adjustment, a theology adjustment, and I had to come to the understanding that the Father knows best. That may be my new answer for everything for a while until it becomes so saturated in me that it becomes second nature to me. The best thing about realizing you are still in the wilderness is that the wilderness can lead you to revival.
And I do want revival in my life, a new awakening, a new fullness in Him, and not to have the old restored, but to have new restored. I want the fullness of His presence. And there is no microwave presence of Almighty God. It is time for me to get lost in the secret place for a while. To spend time letting God restoring my heart. I let go of some distractions, and some things that just steal time and re-focused myself on what really matters. During the last week of our fast; our church had a 4 day revival session here in Atlanta and then Larry and I spent the next 4 at a prophetic gathering in Bristol, VA. The fast is over, but life is different. In fact, the meetings were so good in Bristol that they decided to extend them. And they are online. We will definitely be watching online. Nothing is as good as God's presence and I've been saturated in Him these past four days. You watch online at http://iic.churchonline.org/. The link will also be on my Facebook page as well.
I hope this helps you. I always want to stay transparent. No masks, no hidden stuff, just me walking out this thing called life. I'm not perfect - learning as I go.
Much Love and Blessings!
Then we started this 21 day fast, and Larry and have done this every year we have been married. I didn't even put much effort in the last one. I did the food part of the Daniel fast last year, but I didn't pray more than usual or even really go after God. This one was different, and I knew it in my spirit. Maybe because I had already started trying to press into God.
I repented of much during this 21 days fast, I needed an attitude adjustment, a theology adjustment, and I had to come to the understanding that the Father knows best. That may be my new answer for everything for a while until it becomes so saturated in me that it becomes second nature to me. The best thing about realizing you are still in the wilderness is that the wilderness can lead you to revival.
And I do want revival in my life, a new awakening, a new fullness in Him, and not to have the old restored, but to have new restored. I want the fullness of His presence. And there is no microwave presence of Almighty God. It is time for me to get lost in the secret place for a while. To spend time letting God restoring my heart. I let go of some distractions, and some things that just steal time and re-focused myself on what really matters. During the last week of our fast; our church had a 4 day revival session here in Atlanta and then Larry and I spent the next 4 at a prophetic gathering in Bristol, VA. The fast is over, but life is different. In fact, the meetings were so good in Bristol that they decided to extend them. And they are online. We will definitely be watching online. Nothing is as good as God's presence and I've been saturated in Him these past four days. You watch online at http://iic.churchonline.org/. The link will also be on my Facebook page as well.
I hope this helps you. I always want to stay transparent. No masks, no hidden stuff, just me walking out this thing called life. I'm not perfect - learning as I go.
Much Love and Blessings!
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