Being Persistent in Prayer!

After gathering together today to watch the WAR ROOM movie with my church group, and as our women's ministry embarks on our WAR ROOM Bibly Study journey over the next few months, I am making a commitment and want to challenge those in Christ to do the same; a commitment of persistent prayer. Though this wasn't my first time to see the movie, this was the first time something powerful begin moving within my spirit; and how the Lord is teaching me to never cower down to the enemy and his troops. That's why the enemy fought me so hard to even get to church, to watch the movie for that matter. My car wouldn't crank, oh but there was a backup car in the garage to drive. I go to move my stuff including the finger foods I was to bring, to the other car and the next thing I know the food and bowl are laying all over the garage floor, oh but I had backup food in the house to take. When the enemy knows you are fixing to take a great stand against him, he is going to fight in any way possible. But, in the name of Jesus you have to fight back, you have to fight back with being persistent in prayer, pushing through and pressing on.

The next time that you pray, I want you to visualize the demonic forces vanishing as you mention the name of Jesus. I want you to think of them as darkness and to visualize yourself holding a lamp in your hand. Rebuke satan in the name of Jesus and watch him disappear before your “spiritual eyes.” But you have to be persistent, because he will come back continually and try to regain control. Remember that our war is an ongoing war, so don’t ever stop fighting the fight of faith. Rebuke the devil and his evil forces every single day of your life, and soon you will find freedom from those things that bind you. The WAR ROOM challenge is being persistent in prayer. 

“For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities {satan's the head of this structure}, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” Ephesians 6:12. 

As I journal my prayers, I encourage you to pray with me, those who are struggling with an inner war of being bound up with past situations, knowing this no longer has to be a stronghold in your life: "In the name of Jesus, I rebuke all evil influences from my past right now; all demonic forces, I rebuke them in the name of Jesus... satan, I command you to leave now! Get out, in the name that’s above all names; in the name of Jesus! I declare myself free from all past iniquities; I declare victory over my past. I renew my life today, and satan, you have no power over me. I am covered with the blood of Christ. I command you to go now in the name of Jesus; in the name of the Truth. Go back to your place of darkness. My past is behind, and I declare myself free today... satan, get out! I order you to leave NOW. Any demonic force from my past, present today in my life, I command you to go now, in the name of Jesus... satan, you have nothing against me because you were defeated at the Cross, so I command you to depart from me in the name that’s above all names; in the name of Jesus, the Truth, and the light of this world. I declare myself free and ready to serve my Lord. Thank you, Lord. I praise you today and every day of my life. Thank you! Amen."

I encourage you download the kindle version of Willie Estrada's book "Spiritual Warfare for beginners" or order the paperback book on amazon.com.

The Rise and The Fall!

Eli was the High Priest over the Tabernacle in time prior to the Prophet and Judge Samuel.  No doubt in his younger years Eli was true to the teachings of God, but as he grew older he began to compromise.  He had two sons, Hophni & Phineas, that he was preparing to take over for him when he passed on (his successors), and these sons were wicked. Eli knew of their wickedness and rebuke them but ignored it. Eli did not openly rebuke them in front of the Tabernacle crowd. Eli did not tell his sons to go on their way because of their open rebellion and sin towards God. Why? I think bcause Eli was comfortable, loved, and accepted – he did not want to rock the boat. After all, he was the respected and venerable “Old Man” that had served faithfully in his younger days and had been in his position for years. 

God grew angry over Eli’s refusal to openly rebuke sin, and he raised up a young boy named Samuel to replace him.  Even though Eli was old and respected, God’s judgement was that he would raise his own successor and it would not be his wicked sons. When Samuel was a little older (in his teens, theologians say 14 or 15 years old) and Eli’s eyes were so weak to the point of blindless, the Lord Himself spoke to Samuel. In the middle of the night, the Lord “came and stood” in Samuel’s room (1 Samuel 3:10) and told the young boy to deliver to Eli the message that it was almost time for the prophesied judgment to fall upon his family (verses 11–14). Eli humbly accepted God’s decree, and Samuel was confirmed as a prophet of the Lord in Shiloh
(1 Samuel 3:19–21).

On the day that the Ark of the Covenant was captured the sons of Eli were killed in the battle, Eli fell over (he was very fat though the word of God states) in his chair and died of a broken neck, and a grandson was born through his son Phineas' wife who died after giving birth but not before she named him “Ichabod”, which means “the glory has departed”. 

**Read the first three chapters of 1 Samuel for the whole story. **

The lesson we learn from this is that it is possible to start out well in any ministry or journey with the Lord and end wrongly. It is possible to allow success and longevity to become a stumbling block to the later years in ministry. It is possible to be true for years, but compromise in the end. 

We must always guard ourselves that we do not become as Eli and grow soft in our later years. We do not want to become a memory of what we were in the beginning. We do not want “Ichabod” to be written over our hearts, over our churches, and over our legacy.  We do not want the glory to depart.

I told satan get thee behind!

Know that the devil is trying to zap everything out of Christians (from your hope, peace, strength joy, healing, salvation). The enemy's furious, he wants to suck the power of God & anointing out of your life, he's at work to try to destroy & overpower you. But turn away from that; wake up and realize that the devil has NO POWER OR AUTHORITY OVER YOUR LIFE, UNLESS YOU GIVE IT TO HIM. It's past time to tell the devil that he's over instead of listening to his lie that you're over! It's time we no longer cower down to the enemy, and bind together rebuking his attacks, lies, schemes, and blasphemes. God will not be mocked. God is control and when enough is enough He will handle it.

Obedience is better than sacrifice!

Luke 6:38 "Give and it shall be given unto you, good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over". I have prayed about sharing what the Lord done today. I know that I am being obedient in sharing this because someone else may be struggling with being obedient to God in this very moment. As I was in a store earlier today, the Lord begin to speak to my heart about purchasing something for someone else. I didn't hesitate in that moment and after finding what the Lord directed me to buy, I went to check out and hesitated in that moment as the items were being scanned because I was thinking this may cost more than I was anticipating? But, the Lord kept directing me to do this, and that He would bless me for it. Although I was not doing it to be blessed, I just wanted the other person to be blessed. I could not see the prices as she was ringing them up, but when the cashier told me my total was $8.64, I was shocked. The cashier assured me that it was the right amount, as there was a sale going on that I was not aware of? Wow, I just started smiling, thanking God in my mind! A friend that was with my mama and me, told me that she knew God was going to give that money back to me, then I heard loudly in my spirit, "by tonight". Well, I did not give it a second thought, as it was not an amount of money for me to be overly concerned about. But, as I pulled up to our mailbox this evening and went through the mail, I felt compelled to open this envelope before I even pulled into the driveway and here was this rebate check for $10.48. There was my money back and then extra. I just sat there amazed for a minute, and as I got out of the car, the Lord was reminding me that He was not man, He does not lie and how if you will trust Him and live in obedience to Him, giving Him what is His, He will take care of you. If He says He will give back what you sacrificed because of your obedience to Him, He will. In 1 Samuel 15, God says that “obedience is better than sacrifice". What seemed so minor and inexpensive on my part was a major need met in this person's life that was not known to others. If it is something small or big, that you are struggling with and God is wanting you to do, just step out in faith and obey Him. He will take care of you and the needs will be met. Getting the check did not move me to tears, but that fact that God proved Himself again to me today, did! Sometimes we are so distracted and upset about the enemy's schemes, that we cannot see God working in our lives. Then, something like this gets your focus back to where it needs to be, which is living for and serving God, ministering for Him, and being His hands/feet each day you are still on this earth!

Forgiveness and Cutting Ties!

You have the right to protect yourself and your family members from danger, whether it is physical or psychological. If you truly want peace, you have to be the one to make the changes. You have to pray and know when to walk away with your head held high. Forgiving someone is biblically mandatory, but you can both forgive from your heart and then remove yourself from further offense; it is called "cutting ties". You know the saying, "shame on you if you fool me once, shame on me if you fool twice". I say that there is not a third part of that saying, because you have a right not to be fooled a third time. But aways forgive without limit, because Jesus has forgiven you without limit. You can forgive and cut ties without harboring bitterness or holding a grudge. But when it comes to the company you keep remember this: “He who walks with wise men will be wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.” (Proverbs 13:20).

With some relationships/friendships the Lord is wanting to remove you from a toxic situation that He no longer wants you to be a part of. Yes, you may be heartbroken at first, but eventually peace will come. And after a while, you will feel relief, joy, and gratitude. Understand that your Heavenly Father is protecting you and removing a burden from you. Once we have done what we could to live in peace, we are free to walk away. We are only responsible for doing our part, but if the other person is not doing their part, it is time for us to move on and live the life of peace, joy, and freedom in Christ that God intended for us as His children.

And something that has really helped me to grow spiritually is the Lord speaking this to me: "You do not have to prove yourself to anyone except Me. You do not have to defend yourself. I am your defender. You are never going to satisfy or please critical people, no matter how much you try, so you might as well save yourself a lot of time and not try to justify it with a response".

When you quit fighting and let the Lord fight for you, when you quit leading and let the Lord lead you, when you quit speaking out towards allegations and let the Lord speak for you, when you quit defending and let the Lord defend for you, when you quit trying to prove yourself to others about who you really are, and let the Lord prove who you are, and when you quit relying on a relationship more than your relationship with God... oh, how it changes situations and your life; I am speaking from personal experiences!

Victory is on the Horizon!

Praying and staying in the word of God is what will get you through. The Lord led me to Isaiah 43:14-28 which is scripture where God promises victory. Again saith the Lord, victory is on the horizon. God will send an army, He will make a path to cross over in the middle of deep waters, He will redeem. He will also do a new thing in you and create a pathway through the wilderness, to come home to Him. He will create rivers in the desert and that means His people will be refreshed. He will blot out your sins, never to be remembered again. Yes victory is on the horizon, if you ask for God's help!

Isaiah 43:14-28 King James Version (KJV)

14 Thus saith the Lord, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel; For your sake I have sent to Babylon, and have brought down all their nobles, and the Chaldeans, whose cry is in the ships.

15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the creator of Israel, your King.

16 Thus saith the Lord, which maketh a way in the sea, and a path in the mighty waters;

17 Which bringeth forth the chariot and horse, the army and the power; they shall lie down together, they shall not rise: they are extinct, they are quenched as tow.

18 Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.

19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

20 The beast of the field shall honour me, the dragons and the owls: because I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to my people, my chosen.

21 This people have I formed for myself; they shall shew forth my praise.

22 But thou hast not called upon me, O Jacob; but thou hast been weary of me, O Israel.

23 Thou hast not brought me the small cattle of thy burnt offerings; neither hast thou honoured me with thy sacrifices. I have not caused thee to serve with an offering, nor wearied thee with incense.

24 Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money, neither hast thou filled me with the fat of thy sacrifices: but thou hast made me to serve with thy sins, thou hast wearied me with thine iniquities.

25 I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.

26 Put me in remembrance: let us plead together: declare thou, that thou mayest be justified.

27 Thy first father hath sinned, and thy teachers have transgressed against me.

28 Therefore I have profaned the princes of the sanctuary, and have given Jacob to the curse, and Israel to reproaches.

Do NOT take God's Healing Power for Granted!

I just want to thank the Lord for healing me! I survived the flu! These last 10 days have been rougher and tougher than some of the surgeries I have recovered from. I will spare you the details. I am just very thankful to still have life, and I am ready to praise my Lord for what He's done for me! You know the Lord and me have had a lot of one-on-one time through this. The majority of the time praise & worship music has been playing in my bedroom, while He's been speaking to my spirit about how people forget to praise Him when they recover from a simple cold, a stubbed toe, a cut that heals with no infection, etc. See, we tend to box God's healings into only something big and miraculous such as cancer being gone, blinded eyes opening, the lame walking again, deaf ears opening, a deadly disease suddenly being gone, etc. Oh, but if we only knew the healing we receive when we do survive a small infection, a cold, the flu, pneumonia, etc. when so many others have died because of some illness that started out small. Our mindset on healing would change drastically. God has given me small glimpses into how He has healed me many times over from small illnesses over my life and how I did not praise Him. I have been overwhelmed by His Holy Spirit and healing power through this whole ordeal. He has taught me a powerful lesson through all of this, that I almost cannot put into words. I just know what I had was rough and the meds could only do so much to help the symptoms, but God stepped in and being the great Physician He is, allowed my body to do what it needed to do to fight this off and I waited it out. I do NOT want to take God's healing power for granted, I do NOT want to box His healings into a certain category, and I do NOT want to put limitations and restrictions on Him! ♡