Making Space in my Life for the Positive!!

So, this past Wednesday was really not a good day for me. I ended up feeling sad and just missing Roscoe (my dog of 15 years that passed a few years ago). I honestly just wished for one supportive girlfriend that I can chat with over a cup of coffee or a friend to go shopping and have fun together. I'd much rather have 1 quality, supportive friend than 50 non supportive & inauthentic friends.

I finally realized that with all of the different negative thoughts running through my head at one time, that this was beyond just being sad. I was under serious attack from the enemy and I was determined that I was going to turn things around with some serious prayer and begin focusing on all of the positive things in my life.

The next morning, upon waking, I was determined to have an amazing day if it killed me! I made myself a latte and then got down to work. I honestly always have so much to do, that I normally never have time to think about being how alone that I am most of the time. (I always forward to my hubby coming home from work daily!) I figured, why not just feel that void with things to do and fill up my mind with God's word, so that's what I set out to do!

I ended up getting so much accomplished and my hubby said he noticed that I seemed in much happier spirits. He always says that he can feel when I am sad. That's when you know someone really knows you deep down. I'm so blessed to have an amazing hubby that I love as my mate and my best friend!

So here's how my day went:

>> Put away dishes
>> Listened to three sermons while I worked
>> Washed & put away 2 loads of laundry (one being sheets)
>> Emailed Jersey Mike's coupon to the hubby's work for his lunch
>> Made the bed
>> Shook out all of the rugs
>> Made Home-made chocolate chips
>> Baked chocolate chip cookies + Chocolate Chip Banana Bread
>> Did some spiritual warfare praying for about an hour
>> Joined around 25 new Blogging Groups
>> Updated my To-Do List
>> Promoted my local Swap & Shop Page
>> Emailed a client some updates
>> Made some lentil veggie soup
>> Had lunch with my hubby
>> Walked outside for an hour
>> Helped hubby with dirt for flower beds
>> Watered all of our newly planted trees & fruit plants

After praying, listening to sermons all day and staying busy, I felt a million times better! This morning, I am listening to another sermon and I also downloaded the First 5 App to my iPhone, so that I can set my alarm and be reminded of scriptures throughout the day. I know that God has amazing plans for my future and that I just need to stay positive and keep praying. I'm so excited for what God has in store for my future!!

What do you do when you have down days?

Spiritual Growth + Breakthroughs!!

Where do I begin? For the past two months, God has been working on me steadily. I have been having spiritual breakthroughs back to back at a faster rate than I have ever experienced in my entire Christian life. First, I had to completely give over my entire life to God and completely trust in him for everything. That was very hard for me to do because I tend to worry and want to do things on my own. Once I did that, I started seeing God bless in big ways that only he could do!

Next God began putting it on my heart to completely forgive and love those who have maliciously hurt me; to leave the past behind and pray for my enemies. I have prayed for my enemies before, but this time was very different, I felt the hurts being replaced with love for my enemies. For me, that was a huge breakthrough.

Trusting in God completely and Forgiving and loving  for my enemies was just the beginning of my growth. The third big growth that God has been doing is purifying my heart and getting rid of any pride, anger, resentment, and anything that is not of God. It has taken many trials and tribulations to get to this stage but I can honestly say, it's all been worth it. The times that I turned the other cheek and refused to retaliate through words or actions. When my enemies mocked me or tried to deliberately hurt me, I remained faithful to God and cried out to him to help me. It took me praying to get rid of self and swallowing my pride; it's not easy when someone attacks the people that you love or your character. 

Through it all, God has been my protector, my strong tower; he covers me with his wings. The place that I am at now is so amazing. My focus is on God and what he wants for my life and I no longer have the anxiety or depression that the enemy was trying to bring against me. I know that those were Satan's tools to try to bring me down, but God has delivered me out of the pit! As God's soldier + prayer warrior, Satan is fighting with all the powers of hell to bring me down. He knows the powerful things that God can do through me and he is shaking in his boots. He will not be victorious!

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. And let us know be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." Galations 6:8-9

I have been hearing from God that restoration is coming and the verse "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord" resonated with me recently. (Psalms 27:14) 

I have been so encouraged and also sharing in these victories with my husband, and it has been building his faith as well. He has watched God working in the physical as well as spiritual; blessing our finances through checks that God has sent to us in the mail. If that doesn't build your faith, I don't know what will! 

Our hearts cannot become pure if we don't first go through the fire. Sometimes, it takes hitting rock bottom to first find God and learn how to trust in him and lean on him. I'm so glad that my life hasn't been perfect or I wouldn't have this beautiful relationship with God. I'll take that any day over money, popularity or fame. I am storing up my treasures in my eternal heaven, not here on earth. This place is just temporary, but eternity is forever. I am going to do everything in my power to be a light and help others make it in to Heaven. That is my ultimate purpose here in life.

What has been ways that God has increased your faith?

Major Spiritual Breakthrough!

  

 
Something really amazing happened today and I am so excited to share! I had one of the biggest spiritual breakthroughs that I have ever had in my life. I won't go into all of the details, but God sent me deliverance from a spirit that has been attacking and hurting me for about twenty years of my life. I prayed in the spirit for over an hour and I felt the power of God working all around me as I felt the weight lifting off of me. It was one of the most powerful prayer sessions that I have ever had. This thing/person can no longer hold me in fear, because I know that the almighty God is on my side and no matter what Satan throws at me, he's already defeated! God has already taken care of this situation- I don't need to fear my future any longer!

I have to tell you that if you have something/someone in your life that involves fear, manipulation, guilt, selfishness, insecurities, narcissistic behavior, boasting, lies; it's not of God. I don't care if that person claims to be a Christian or who they are. God doesn't put guilt on you, threaten, blackmail, lie or manipulate. That's Satan- period. End of story.

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places."- Ephesians 6:12

Before I could pray for deliverance, I had to repent of several things that I was guilty of such as insecurities, rejection, fear, wanting to be in control, allowing gossip in my presence (ouch). It's so easy to be consumed with things that are not of God that slowly creep in without us noticing. Satan is constantly busy at work, so we have to stay on guard at all times.

I feel so blessed that God chose to discipline me, because it just means that he truly loves and cares for me. And to be honest, I didn't realize that I was being ungodly in several ways until he showed me.

"For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights." Proverbs 3:12

I am so excited to see what else that God has planned for my future! I know that without a doubt, there are so many wonderful blessings coming my way soon!

Have you ever had a major spiritual breakthrough or deliverance?