This was written by Kathy Troccoli (her words are in quotes) and is located in the Women of Faith Study Bible (NIV). It is based on Psalm 51:6. Although I have had my original Bible for about 21 years and love reading it because I know where everything is, I have decided to branch out of my comfort zone and read a new, different version. It is almost like reading a completely new book! My readings were becoming stale in my NKJV Bible, but now everything is coming to life again in the newer Bible. I love the devotions, study guides, and character sketches throughout the Bible that were written by various women.
“The Lord continues to heal and restore the wounded places in me as I allow him access. The process is at times so painful that I want to just ignore it and live my life as best I can. But I do believe that we are as sick as our secrets. The places of hurt we bury deep inside, the wounds that seem to open and close according to the circumstances-these things hinder all that we can become in Jesus, all that He desires for our lives. They affect us both relationally and emotionally. They affect us spiritually and morally.”
“In Psalm 51:6, [David] says [the Lord] desires truth in our inner parts; this is where He can move in power and healing. The psalm goes on to say that He teaches us wisdom in our inmost place. He uproots the bad and pours in His best as we let Him.”
“Do not hide from Him. Do not hide from yourself. Jesus is gentle yet strong and will walk you through to victorious beginnings.”
“You’ll be amazed at the miracle you will become.”
Kathy Troccoli
This just about sums up my whole life struggles!! Sometimes I do not even realize that I have not given Jesus access to parts of my life. I want Him to have complete and total access to everything in my life, but that is not possible until I remember certain things that have taken place. When I do remember them and give them over to Jesus, I do not have to worry about how to handle them. He takes care of everything, I, just have to let Him!! When I am struggling, I will go into hiding and not talk to anyone, including my savior, Jesus! He is the only ONE that can help me, yet I still run from Him. I need to pray my way through all these issues and release them to Jesus, no one else. My goal is to stop running and let Him do His work in me, so that He will be able to use me to bring Him honor and glory in whatever He has for me to do!
I really need someone to hold me to this, so I do not get lazy and forget to do it! My mind gets busy with the things of life that are not even really important, and I forget to do the most important!
“Create in me a clean heart, O God and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51: 10-12
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
God is Awesome
We had a special speaker at our church for the morning and evening services. This is some of the blessings I received:
Since Sunday night I have not been able to put into words what went on at my church, other than it was awesome. I have never witnessed anything like it in my whole life!! It was frightening in a way, yet I'm overwhelmed by the power that was in the sanctuary. I could not sleep at all Sunday night, there was so many thoughts going around in my mind----but I kept hearing those words spoken to me, "the destiny is still bright for you". The things he said to me bypassed my brain and shot straight into my soul. It was like Jesus was talking right to me. I felt something so deep inside me--like He touched me...For some reason I do not know, I looked up at the speaker and saw his lips moving, then looked straight into his eyes and knew it was Jesus talking through him. I could not look away....I was dumbfounded that Jesus was speaking to me....
He said things I have thought in my mind, yet never told anyone and mentioned the many battles I have with the things that happened to me in my life. It was like He validated me....I wish I could explain it better, but not yet....
Monday night I prayed that God would let me sleep right through the night. I woke up at 8:30 Tuesday morning and I realized that I was different. I felt God telling me to write down what He was saying to me.
I could hear Him speaking to me and I knew it was HIM!! I realized that God has given me so many ways to fight the battles that take place in my mind! He was with me through all those battles as a child, teenager, college student, young adult, married adult and now alone again, and He has a destiny for me that is still bright! I realized all the things that God has designed for my life, the devil tried to destroy--but he didn't have enough power because God is GREATER, STRONGER, HIGHER and more AWESOME than any other!
My God is HEALER! He healed me from ALL the wounds the devil threw at me, through different types of abuse and sicknesses. During this past week, he has been trying his best to steal me and destroy me, but GOD'S lifeline is STRONGER than anything that can come against me. Even when I think that I can't take it any longer, His lifeline comes to me and all I need to do is just hold onto it.
I can feel, I can see, I understand now what is going on in my life. I see now why the devil was after me so much the week before the guest speaker came. He was afraid of what was going to take place in my life.
When the guest speaker was talking about the 4th watch, I understood why I have had so many battles happening during those hours. It is usually 3:33 or 4:44am. (For some reason those numbers really bother me) It was during those times when I would get weary from the fighting and just give in and quit trying to battle the thoughts....then....I would feel a weird sense of peace, not really real peace, but quietness before a tornado strikes.
Colossians 1: 13-14 "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."
I need to shake off anything that comes near me that is not of God. Take every thought captive, let no negative thoughts take hold in my mind- never, ever! Only good wholesome thoughts, Holy Spirit thoughts!
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself again the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"..
Everything in my life that has happened that I believed was punishment was actually the devil trying to take me from God. But, God always won! Whenever bad things happened, He always bounced me back. I had a beautiful place high up on the mountains, in my imagination, that I could go to escape the reality of what was going on in my life. I had to climb up a steep cliff to the very top and then roll down the grassy slopes of my beautiful secret place. There was a stream of water running through the field and no one was there but me, it was so peaceful and safe. No one could hurt me there. No one but me could ever be in that place, therefore it was safe for me. The birds were singing in the trees, flowers blowing in the gentle breeze and I knew Jesus was there. I couldn't see Him.... just feel His presence. I'd go to my secret place whenever I could, sometimes I could not find the opening to get in and I'd have to face whatever was going on with the happenings. Sometimes, I would try to go there on my own and I could not get in. It was like I had to be transported there by God...
I knew I was safe there and that the devil could not find me, because I was hidden from him. He had no access to me. No other people were ever there, it was just my place. I knew as soon as I left there, that he would be after me again. The devil was a formless blob that constantly chased me. I'd have nightmares that he would catch me and I would not be able to get away, but God always rescued me. I never knew what God looked like, I just knew He was there and when I would leave my secret place, I felt stronger.
You know the interesting thing about my secret place? I had never read Psalm 23 until 1988 which is the year I got saved and bought a Bible, yet my secret place is just like Psalm 23.
Throughout my whole life, I could feel God's presence with me at certain times, even when bad things were happening.
After I wrote this note, I went outside to mow my lawn. As I was mowing, the clouds covered the sky and a slight breeze was blowing on me as I walked faster to try to get as much grass cut before the rain. I had just told myself that I could do all things through Christ who gives me the strength, wanting to get another strip of grass done, when BANG!!! Thunder smashed into my ears from right above my head!! I said, "Okay! Okay! Okay God, I heard that! Thank You for the warning, I will stop now." Then as I put the mower into the woods to keep it dry, the rains came. Ooohhhhhhh.......it was so peaceful and quiet. All I could hear were the big drops of rain tumbling out of the sky and watched in awe as they fell to the ground. The thunder was banging all around me and I was not afraid. I walked into the rain and just stood there allowing the healing rain to completely drench me as I praised the Lord. It was awesome in ways I can't explain now. The Lord healed me from the fears I had when I was a child....
Then I stood on my front porch and watched the beauty and power of that storm. It made me realize that my God is GREATER and STRONGER than anything that could ever come after me. I knew that my POWERFUL God would protect me as I made that choice to follow Him wherever He leads me.
After a few minutes, I went out to the back deck and knelt down and talked to God in the middle of the storm....then I laid down and prayed and surrendered everything to God. The thunder was just rumbling at this point and not banging as severe as before. I have never felt so much peace. I don't know how long I stayed out there, but the rains had stopped and I was actually getting cold, so I came inside.
I feel different than I have ever felt....I do not know how to explain it....I'm not worried about anything....just peaceful and I will take it for as long as I can have it!!
Since Sunday night I have not been able to put into words what went on at my church, other than it was awesome. I have never witnessed anything like it in my whole life!! It was frightening in a way, yet I'm overwhelmed by the power that was in the sanctuary. I could not sleep at all Sunday night, there was so many thoughts going around in my mind----but I kept hearing those words spoken to me, "the destiny is still bright for you". The things he said to me bypassed my brain and shot straight into my soul. It was like Jesus was talking right to me. I felt something so deep inside me--like He touched me...For some reason I do not know, I looked up at the speaker and saw his lips moving, then looked straight into his eyes and knew it was Jesus talking through him. I could not look away....I was dumbfounded that Jesus was speaking to me....
He said things I have thought in my mind, yet never told anyone and mentioned the many battles I have with the things that happened to me in my life. It was like He validated me....I wish I could explain it better, but not yet....
Monday night I prayed that God would let me sleep right through the night. I woke up at 8:30 Tuesday morning and I realized that I was different. I felt God telling me to write down what He was saying to me.
I could hear Him speaking to me and I knew it was HIM!! I realized that God has given me so many ways to fight the battles that take place in my mind! He was with me through all those battles as a child, teenager, college student, young adult, married adult and now alone again, and He has a destiny for me that is still bright! I realized all the things that God has designed for my life, the devil tried to destroy--but he didn't have enough power because God is GREATER, STRONGER, HIGHER and more AWESOME than any other!
My God is HEALER! He healed me from ALL the wounds the devil threw at me, through different types of abuse and sicknesses. During this past week, he has been trying his best to steal me and destroy me, but GOD'S lifeline is STRONGER than anything that can come against me. Even when I think that I can't take it any longer, His lifeline comes to me and all I need to do is just hold onto it.
I can feel, I can see, I understand now what is going on in my life. I see now why the devil was after me so much the week before the guest speaker came. He was afraid of what was going to take place in my life.
When the guest speaker was talking about the 4th watch, I understood why I have had so many battles happening during those hours. It is usually 3:33 or 4:44am. (For some reason those numbers really bother me) It was during those times when I would get weary from the fighting and just give in and quit trying to battle the thoughts....then....I would feel a weird sense of peace, not really real peace, but quietness before a tornado strikes.
Colossians 1: 13-14 "He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins."
I need to shake off anything that comes near me that is not of God. Take every thought captive, let no negative thoughts take hold in my mind- never, ever! Only good wholesome thoughts, Holy Spirit thoughts!
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself again the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ"..
Everything in my life that has happened that I believed was punishment was actually the devil trying to take me from God. But, God always won! Whenever bad things happened, He always bounced me back. I had a beautiful place high up on the mountains, in my imagination, that I could go to escape the reality of what was going on in my life. I had to climb up a steep cliff to the very top and then roll down the grassy slopes of my beautiful secret place. There was a stream of water running through the field and no one was there but me, it was so peaceful and safe. No one could hurt me there. No one but me could ever be in that place, therefore it was safe for me. The birds were singing in the trees, flowers blowing in the gentle breeze and I knew Jesus was there. I couldn't see Him.... just feel His presence. I'd go to my secret place whenever I could, sometimes I could not find the opening to get in and I'd have to face whatever was going on with the happenings. Sometimes, I would try to go there on my own and I could not get in. It was like I had to be transported there by God...
I knew I was safe there and that the devil could not find me, because I was hidden from him. He had no access to me. No other people were ever there, it was just my place. I knew as soon as I left there, that he would be after me again. The devil was a formless blob that constantly chased me. I'd have nightmares that he would catch me and I would not be able to get away, but God always rescued me. I never knew what God looked like, I just knew He was there and when I would leave my secret place, I felt stronger.
You know the interesting thing about my secret place? I had never read Psalm 23 until 1988 which is the year I got saved and bought a Bible, yet my secret place is just like Psalm 23.
Throughout my whole life, I could feel God's presence with me at certain times, even when bad things were happening.
After I wrote this note, I went outside to mow my lawn. As I was mowing, the clouds covered the sky and a slight breeze was blowing on me as I walked faster to try to get as much grass cut before the rain. I had just told myself that I could do all things through Christ who gives me the strength, wanting to get another strip of grass done, when BANG!!! Thunder smashed into my ears from right above my head!! I said, "Okay! Okay! Okay God, I heard that! Thank You for the warning, I will stop now." Then as I put the mower into the woods to keep it dry, the rains came. Ooohhhhhhh.......it was so peaceful and quiet. All I could hear were the big drops of rain tumbling out of the sky and watched in awe as they fell to the ground. The thunder was banging all around me and I was not afraid. I walked into the rain and just stood there allowing the healing rain to completely drench me as I praised the Lord. It was awesome in ways I can't explain now. The Lord healed me from the fears I had when I was a child....
Then I stood on my front porch and watched the beauty and power of that storm. It made me realize that my God is GREATER and STRONGER than anything that could ever come after me. I knew that my POWERFUL God would protect me as I made that choice to follow Him wherever He leads me.
After a few minutes, I went out to the back deck and knelt down and talked to God in the middle of the storm....then I laid down and prayed and surrendered everything to God. The thunder was just rumbling at this point and not banging as severe as before. I have never felt so much peace. I don't know how long I stayed out there, but the rains had stopped and I was actually getting cold, so I came inside.
I feel different than I have ever felt....I do not know how to explain it....I'm not worried about anything....just peaceful and I will take it for as long as I can have it!!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Prayer for direction and protection
In brokenness I come to You, Jesus. I’m kneeling in surrender to Your Spirit.
Mend my broken heart, I can find no other; to mend my broken heart, to give me hope, Jesus.
Lord I want to place my life in Your hands. Lay my burdens at Your feet.
Take my life, take my heart, I am Yours.
In repentance I come to You Jesus. I’m kneeling in surrender to Your Spirit.
Forgive me, my sins, I want no other-than to give my life to You, my all to You, Jesus.
Lord I want to place my life in Your hands. Lay my burdens at Your feet.
Take my life, take my heart, I am Yours.
Heavenly Father, I turn away from my sins. I admit I do not even know what some of them are, but I pray that You will bring them to my mind, so that I can confess them and ask You to forgive me. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your Son and that He came into this world, specifically to the earth physically in order to destroy the power of darkness in my life. I believe that Jesus paid the price for my sins because He loves me! I ask that the Holy Spirit would come into my heart right now and establish Jesus as Lord of my life. I submit myself to the lordship of Jesus Christ and to the power of the Holy Spirit. I pray that the Holy Spirit will dominate every area of my life and deliver me from the influences of this world that are not of God. I pray that the Holy Spirit will deliver me from every area of my life that is negative and displeasing to God.
In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I command my old sinful nature that is filled with negativity to die. I want my life to be saturated with the Holy Spirit and submitted to the Word of God. My body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, my mind is being renewed daily with the Scriptures and my life is being strengthened through healthy relationships with my sisters in Christ.
I do not want to live for myself, for the world or under the influence of darkness. I am committed to live the life that God designed for me.
I renounce every evil spirit that is trying to work in, through or around me. In Jesus’ name, I command every dark spirit away from em, and I proclaim that the powers of darkness have no grounds to be in or around my life. I am committed to the lordship of Jesus Christ, which means no other influence can dominate me!
Thank You Jesus for delivering me from the evil one.
Our Father who art in Heaven
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done;
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses as we forgive
those who have trespassed against us.
And lead us not into temptation
But deliver us from every evil.
For thine is the kingdom, the power and the glory
Forever and ever. Amen
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