Keep Walking!

Keep Walking!

“I will go before you and make the crooked places straight.” — Isaiah 45:2

The enemy is threatened by what God is doing in these days. There is no doubt that we are living in challenging times, and sometimes the enemy will try to catch us off guard. When everything seems smooth, he may throw a slippery stone onto the path—something unexpected that causes us to stumble, become discouraged, or question our purpose.

But God says, “Keep walking.” Don't stop because the road got difficult. Don't turn around because you stumbled. Don't give up because the path looks uncertain. God has already gone before you, and He knows every obstacle that lies ahead.

There is hope.

There is purpose.

There is victory ahead.

The enemy may try to slow you down, but he cannot stop what God has ordained for your life. Keep standing firm. Keep praying. Keep believing. Keep putting one foot in front of the other. You may encounter crooked paths, unexpected stones, and difficult seasons, but God promises to go before you and make the crooked places straight.

So keep walking.

Your breakthrough may be closer than you think. Your testimony may be forming in the middle of your trial. And one day, you will look back and realize that every step was leading you exactly where God wanted you to be. The enemy may throw stones, but God is still making a way. Keep walking—you are going to see the victory!

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Prayer suggestion:

"Lord, help me keep walking when the road becomes difficult. When the enemy tries to discourage me or cause me to stumble, remind me that You have already gone before me. Give me strength to stand firm, faith to keep believing, and courage to continue forward. Thank You for the hope, purpose, and victory You have promised. In Jesus’ name, amen."

But So Is God!

But so is God...

For someone who needs encouragement, allow me to share my heart with you. Spiritual exhaustion is real, pain is real, grief is real, disappointments are real. But so is God. He is our comforter and our very present help in time of need. He stays close to the brokenhearted. He makes a way where there seems to be no way. 

Depression/anxiety is real. (There may be days when you feel tired, overwhelmed, or like you simply cannot keep going). But so is God. He sees what others cannot see, and He knows the battles you are fighting in your mind and heart.

Struggles are real. Bills, relationships, temptations, discouragement, loneliness, and uncertainty are real. But so is God. He is our strength when our strength runs out. Sickness is real. But so is God. He is our ultimate healer. He is our protector. 

Trials are real. (We may not understand why God allows certain things, and sometimes the road is harder than we ever imagined). But so is God. He has not abandoned us in the middle of the storm.

Your circumstances may be real, but they are not greater than your God. The God I serve, He is very much alive and real and He cares about everything we battle and face in this life. Sometimes the best thing we can do is get alone with Him, and pour our heart and soul out to Him whether it be with our tears, prayers, or worship and praise and allow Him to help us in our hour of need.

*When you hurt, run to Him.

*When you are weary, lean on Him.

*When you are discouraged, remind yourself of His promises for they are yes and amen.

*When you cannot see the way forward, trust the One who can, because He promises to go before us and pave every crooked path straight.

You may not be able to change everything you are facing today, but you can remember this:

Pain is real—but so is God.

Struggles are real—but so is God.

Trials are real—but so is God.

And God is still faithful. He is faithful to meet you in the middle of your pain, strengthen you in your struggles, carry you through your trials, heal you in His way and will. Keep your eyes on Him, trust Him, and don't doubt Him in this hour. Keep the enemy under your feet where he belongs and trust God.

Guard Your Pea Patch and Fight!

Stay in Your Pea Patch and Fight!

The Lord give a word like this about ten years ago that ended up being a sermon and also what I have continued to have to be reminded up in the middle of hard times, spiritual battles, spiritual exhaustion and just a warring of the mind... and that's to simply stand strong and fight! Keep the enemy under your feet where he belongs! Once again, God is urging me to stand on this word again in the middle of battling a weight spirit! 

Scripture: “And the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Beth-aven.” — 

1 Samuel 14:23

There is a powerful story in 2 Samuel 23:11-12 about Shammah, one of David’s mighty men. The Philistines came to take a field of lentils, but Shammah stood his ground and fought. While others ran, he stayed in his field and defended what had been entrusted to him. The Philistines were defeated, because one man decided to stay and fight when every one else fled in fear. That's exactly what the enemy wants us to do, cower down in fear, lay down in defeat, and give up.

Sometimes the enemy isn't trying to take everything at once. He simply wants to take your peace, your joy, your family, your faith, or your purpose - one piece at a time. That's the enemy's tickery, as he's sly as fox, he's the father of all lies and the truth is not in him. 

But there comes a time when you have to say, “This is my pea patch, and I'm not giving it up!”

Stay where God has planted you.

Fight for your faith.

Fight for your family.

Fight for your joy.

Fight for your calling.

Fight for what God has entrusted to you.

You don't have to fight in your own strength. God fights with you and gives you the strength to stand. Don't run from your pea patch. Stand your ground, lift your head, and fight the good fight of faith!

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Prayer suggestion:

"Dear Lord, help me to stand firm when the enemy comes against what You have entrusted to me. Give me courage, strength, and perseverance. Help me protect my faith, my family, my purpose, and my joy. When I feel like giving up, remind me that You are fighting with me. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Spiritual Exhaustion!

Spiritual Exhaustion - what I have been battling in the middle of some stressful times the past month yet God remains faithful or pull me through. However, I also know what is like to battle ongoing depression and anxiety but I know there is a remedy for it all. 

Scripture: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

Sometimes we can become spiritually exhausted. We keep serving, praying, helping others, and giving, but inside we feel empty.

Even strong people get tired. Even faithful people need rest. God is not asking you to keep pouring out when your soul is empty. He is inviting you to come to Him and be refreshed.

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is stop, get alone with God, and let Him fill you again.

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Spiritual Exhaustion vs. Depression

Scripture: “He restoreth my soul.” — Psalm 23:3

Sometimes we feel spiritually exhausted, and sometimes what we are experiencing may be deeper than simple tiredness. Spiritual exhaustion and depression can look similar, but they are not always the same thing.

Spiritual exhaustion may come from giving, serving, praying, and carrying responsibilities for too long without allowing ourselves to be refreshed. Again, God reminds us, “Come unto me... and I will give you rest.” — Matthew 11:28

Depression can involve a deeper and more persistent heaviness that affects our thoughts, emotions, energy, sleep, and everyday life. It is not a sign that someone has weak faith. Faith and getting help can go hand in hand.

Sometimes we don't need another sermon—we need rest. Sometimes we need prayer. Sometimes we need a trusted friend. And sometimes we need professional help.

God cares about the whole person — spirit, mind, and body. Don't be ashamed to say, “I'm tired.” Don't feel quilty to say, "No I can't help with that". Don't be afraid to say, “I need help.” And don't forget to say, “Jesus, I need You.”

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Suggested Prayer:

"Lord, You know when my soul is weary and when my heart is hurting. Help me recognize what I need and give me courage to seek the right help. Refresh my spirit, renew my mind, and surround me with people who will encourage and support me. Remind me that needing help does not mean I have failed You. In Jesus' name, Amen."

When Your Spirit Feels Heavy!

When Your Spirit Feels Heavy!

Key Scripture: “Heaviness in the heart of man maketh it stoop: but a good word maketh it glad.” — Proverbs 12:25

There are times when we carry something we cannot explain. We may wake up tired even though we slept. We may feel discouraged, overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally drained. Nothing specific may have happened that day, yet there is a heaviness on our spirit.

The Bible calls it a weight or heaviness.

Sometimes the weight comes from grief. Sometimes from disappointment. Sometimes from responsibilities, spiritual battles, or simply carrying too much for too long.

But here is the good news: God never intended for us to carry every weight by ourselves.

1. A Heavy Spirit Can Make Us Feel Stuck.

Proverbs 12:25 says that heaviness in the heart makes it stoop.

When we are carrying a heavy spirit, everything can feel harder. Prayer can feel difficult. Worship can feel like work. We may withdraw from people and begin believing that things will never change.

The enemy would love for us to become so focused on the weight that we forget the One who can carry it.

Psalm 55:22 says: “Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee.”

Notice that God doesn't say, “Carry it better.”

He says, “Cast it.” There are some things we need to stop carrying and start casting.

2. Jesus Invites Us to Give Him Our Burdens.

Jesus said in Matthew 11:28: “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”

Jesus didn't say, “Come to Me when you have everything together.” He said, “Come when you're tired. Come when you're burdened. Come when you're heavy.”

What a beautiful invitation! You don't have to hide your heaviness from God. You can bring Him your tears, your questions, your disappointments, your fears, and your exhaustion.

God already knows what's weighing on you. And He is not disappointed in you because you're tired. He is inviting you to come closer.

3. God Can Exchange Your Heaviness for Praise.

Isaiah 61:3 says that God gives: “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness.”

That means heaviness doesn't have to have the final word.

God can replace mourning with joy.

He can replace despair with hope.

He can replace heaviness with praise.

Sometimes the breakthrough begins when we worship God before we see the answer. 

You may not feel like praising Him. Praise Him anyway.

You may not understand what He's doing. Trust Him anyway.

You may still feel the weight. Give it to Him anyway.

Praise shifts our focus from the size of our problem to the greatness of our God.

4. You Don't Have to Carry Tomorrow Today.

One reason our spirits become heavy is because we're carrying things God never asked us to carry today. We're worrying about tomorrow. We're replaying yesterday. We're trying to figure out how everything is going to work out.

But Jesus said: “Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself.” — Matthew 6:34

Grace is given for today. You don't need tomorrow's grace today. God will meet you there when you get there. So breathe. Pray. Trust. Take one step at a time.

5. God Still Has Joy for You.

Psalm 30:5 reminds us: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”

Your current season is not your final destination. The heaviness you feel today does not mean you will feel this way forever.

God is still working.

He is still faithful.

He is still near.

And He can breathe fresh life into a weary spirit.

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A Prayer for a Heavy Spirit.

Heavenly Father,

"I come to You today carrying things that have become too heavy for me. You know the burdens I haven't been able to put into words. You know the things that have made my heart weary and my spirit heavy. Today, I choose to cast my burdens on You. Take the weight I've been carrying. Take my worries, my fears, my disappointments, and my exhaustion. Give me Your peace where there has been anxiety. Give me hope where I have felt discouraged. Give me strength where I have become weary. Give me joy where heaviness has settled in my spirit. Lord, help me to stop carrying what You have asked me to surrender. Clothe me with the garment of praise. Refresh my soul. Renew my mind. Restore my joy. Remind me that I am not alone and that You are still in control. Today, I choose to trust You with what I cannot control. In Jesus' name, Amen."

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Remember this. You may be carrying a heavy load, but you don't have to carry it alone. Give God the weight. Let Him give you His peace. Let Him refresh your spirit. And when you don't know what else to do— praise Him anyway. Because the same God who carried you this far is faithful enough to carry you the rest of the way.