Fickle Feelings and your worth to God vs “self worth”…….:) What’s the difference?

February 25, 2018 Laura GraceLeave a comment

Most of the rage and anguish people experience is over some sort of injustice. “IT”S NOT FAIR” They made me feel this way! It’s not right! Believe me I know and understand it (too well).

The counselling of the 70’s taught us to get in touch with ourselves, and before that we were supposed to “find ourselves”.

Secular counselling teachings us to be justifiably angry over the injustices committed against us, where as the bible teaches us to realize we have all sinned, and none of us deserves a thing, but Jesus paid the price for us anyway.

(Talk about unjust!) Why did he (an innocent person) have to suffer such horrific agony and pain to redeem us?

He didn’t have to, thats the point. He wanted to. WANTED TO! For the Joy OF YOU set before him……Jesus went to the cross. FOR YOU!

‘We’ve got a right to be angry…..” (Pat Benetar croons) and yes we do, (have the right). But Is it right? Really?

I’ve had fits of anger, but it never healed me.

Raging anger gets us in trouble, stuffed anger makes us depressed. What do we do with the rage we feel over injustice?

Having God point out our sin (again and again) does not build our “Self-Esteem” so let’s just be honest about it, right now.

Many people will never see (Or admit this) but the reason so many are rejecting the gospel today is because it does not make them feel good about themselves. Supposedly “what they did” is worse than “what I have done.”

Our sense of Value and worth needs to come from the truth that “WE” are just as sinful as “THEY ARE” but Jesus paid the price to save us from ourselves.

If you understand your vaue and worth from God’s view point, nobody can ever take that from you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139).

God cares, but sometimes he allows people to suffer in NOT having all that makes them feel good about themselves, so they can learn what their value is to him. This is what is meant by “buy from me Gold refined in the fire” (Rev 3:18).

For you see…..Good feelings and “Feelings of self worth” achieved by what we do, accolades, applause, none of it is lasting ………..

I”m glad I suffered. Glad I was lonely and alone at times, destitute, rejected, and forlorn. It was during those times God taught me what my worth is TO HIM. Had I not suffered, I’m not sure I ever would have been propelled to seek him, and find out. Now I know, I am worth so much to Jesus, he would have died JUST FOR ME. My sin of rejecting him was even more horrible than any rejection I have ever experienced.

And he forgave me for it…………I cried out for his Mercy….and he granted it to me. That’s the only reason I’m here to tell the story.

“…….knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1: 18 and 19

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UNRESPONSIVE! Unanswered prayers and hardened hearts: Is He the Lord of your prayer life?

June 6, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

Yes. The bible was written by men inspired of the Holy Spirit to write. Just as I am doing right now! I have this need to share with you why some prayers seem to go unanswered, for this is the biggest reason many get discouraged, give up, and no longer come to God. Our relationship with him is everything!

If we lose that, what do we have? Nothing! SO these are things are know to be true, both from my experience, from the Holy Spirit teaching me …..and from God’s word. Here are 7 prayers that God “can’t answer……: the way you wish. Before I share it I want to share a story with you.

When I was in high school, I prayed every single day to be in this “small group” of singers I wanted to travel with. Every day I prayed. Day in, and Day out “YOU SAID FATHER” ask what you will and it shall be done!” (I said) so please give me favor, put me in this group.

I even shared with him why I needed it to happen. I had good reasons too! It didn’t happen and I was torn between being upset with the Director or upset with God. See, I felt I NEEDED IT TO HAPPEN and it was a reasonable request. I was having a horribly rough time in high school, had no friends, my life was in shambles…..and I was praying for this one good thing to happen for me. I had other dreams not come true for me (many) and by the way I practiced (for the audition) …Oh how I wanted this one thing to come true for me! And in my heart I thought “If you will just do this, I will serve you forever!”

…….Well it didn’t happen. And my Faith was reaching out with Maximum Force! It seemed to be the God of the Universe had to see my heart and how very important this was to me. I took it as a no, which led to me thinking he didn’t care……

But it was not a no ……And I wish I had known this a very long time ago!

Here is what God has shown me since then (so long ago) ..as I continually pursue knowing him as my savior and Lord:

#1 God won’t answer prayers that take away a person’s free will. Now yes if they want to Kill you and God doesn’t want you dead, yes he can intercede for you! I”m talking about forced salvation, or praying someone “serves God” if they have no desire to do so. At all! HE sees their heart! If you prayed for someone this way and they got saved, it’s only because they already had a desire to see him, know him, or get saved. God doesn’t take prisoners. Only satan does that, not God.

#2 Prayers that go against who he is. God could have just killed Pharoah (to set the captives free) why didn’t he? Because, he is just. He is fair, he is Holy, he is kind and he is longsuffering. You can see God’s mercy toward Pharoah in how he dealt with him. And yes his children did suffer more, while awaiting their day of deliverance. If they prayed God would just “Kill” Pharoah (to hurry up the process) no, God did not answer……that prayer, the way they wished.

#3 Prayers to plant seeds where there is hard hearts or hardened soil. God is wise. He’s a great farmer. IF you are praying to plant a seed (of his word) in a hardened heart, he already told us in Matthew that seeds on rocky soil fall by the way. A better prayer is to ask him to plow up the soil of their heart (in this case) We need to be led by His Spirit in how we pray. I really believe (again) God will not go against “WHO HE IS” He remains true to himself! Therefore, we are wise to ask for his wisdom! (In Prayer).

#4 Prayers that put the flesh ahead of the Spirit our Soul. Yes, he wants to heal. He does! Often God will heal people because he knows if he does, they will believe (in him) and get saved. Other times there is justice involved, such as answering the prayer of another person who is petitioning him endlessly to heal someone HOWEVER as a rule, God does not put flesh ahead of the Spirit. He is always more interested in the condition of our heart than he is about our bodies.

Therefore, instead of just saying “God must not want to heal” It is better to say ….so what’s the Hold Up Father? Why are they not getting well? Tell us your heart on the matter? Don’t just assume he doesn’t want to heal someone! There are cases where God withholds a promise for a time- to get a better promise from you! (Covenant!). Every case is different! I will tell you this……If you keep your heart centered on what he wants (vs what you want) IN YOUR RELATIONSHP WITH HIM Things will go much better for you.

#5 Prayers that make others stumble. You can pray for revival, (in your church) and that’s fine, but we need to keep in mind how much God loves his people. If they only want to eat vegetables (and have chicken soup for the soul, vs meat) God respects that, and their wishes. He doesn’t love them any less, just because they do not wish to partake of all the great things you have experienced! So I have learned this the hard way, some do not wish to have steak! If they are content in God with what they have an love him, it’s a trespass to barge in and insist they have or eat things “your way.” Amen?

#6 Prayers that do not glorify Him. Does it really glorify him if you get a million dollars, and spend it on whatever you want? One thing that scares me is I do believe in some cases, when a person keeps on and on in faith (without Love for God) the devil might just step in and answer! You see he has signs and wonders too (signs and lying wonders). So don’t assume because that “other person” got everything they wanted (and did not do it God’s way) Got the answer from God! WE NEED to understand that God our Father does not go against his own word. He’s not going to say “seek ye first my kingdom” and then grant people big piles of money so they can skip over everything he said, without a consequence. What God does always brings people closer to him…………….

As that is his Number #1 Mission. We know this, because he did not deny us his own Son, who went to a bloody and horrible death on a cross to save us. (and he did NOT deserve it, we did!).

7. Things you can do for yourself (you are lazy, or just won’t, or whatever) AS HIS child if you just don’t want to seek a job (bring me a Job Father) Or you won’t talk to your wife “Just tell her to be nice to me God” Or in my Case “Father please help so and so do thus and so” yeah. I have not had any luck with praying for others to do my bidding! Now if you have tried to communicate and they won’t listen, perhaps God will have you pray they have a listening ear or their ears are opened to hear BUT……

Do not get caught up in formulas! I KNOW this is hard to hear, but People are not objects! Every case is not the same. People are as unique as snowflakes …..

Therefore, If we don’t want our Faith to be shipwrecked, or wind up discouraged, or feeling our prayers are all in vain, we do well to heed these words:

1 John 5:14 “Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. ¹⁵And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

¹⁶If anyone sees his brother sinning a sin which does not lead to death, he will ask, and He will give him life for those who commit sin not leading to death. There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that. ¹⁷All unrighteousness is sin, and there is sin not leading to death.”

on top of that we have:

Romans 8:27 Now He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He makes intercession for the saints according to the will of God.

From the upcoming book “Relationship is everything!” by Laura Grace

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My Theory on why God answers prayer….or doesn’t sometimes…..

June 4, 2017June 4, 2017 Laura GraceLeave a comment

I think God answers prayer so we will know who He is. In Part We know him as provider when he provides. As healer when he heals, and as saviour when he saves. Deliverer when he makes us a free of a mindset or bondage we’ve been in, and teacher when he instructs us. We know him as Father, Protector and Leader …And disciplinarian and friend.

I found a clue in this passage of scripture today and began to think about it.

Exodus 9:29

Moses replied, “When I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands in prayer to the Lord. The thunder will stop and there will be no more hail, so you may know that the earth is the Lord’s.

So you may know…….He did the same thing with Elijah and with Jesus “So you may know……” (what God looks like, what he thinks, what he does) ………

It may be silly but If I want to KNOW my Father I need to read “the whole book’ …..I don’t read it to show off, or look important! I read it to KNOW HIM!

I can honestly say I”ve come to know God as provider, protector, deliverer, and friend. He is comfort he is Restorer……..He Is most certainly Love! but if we define love as always getting our way we won’t believe God loves us. No he doesn’t answer every prayer. “Because ye ask amiss” James exhorts…….

Some theologans then decide you can never pray for a bicycle for your child (because it’s asking amiss! God knows your heart! He is your FATHER (in Heaven) He knows what is good for us, and what isnt! HE DOES Love to suprise us too! If you never ask for something silly, you will never come to know that he cares (about certain things you didn’t think he cared about!).

AMISS is not caring what God wants! I want what I want! It’s a covenant people! Him and you! You and him! KNOWING EACH OTHER (and what the other wants) This is what Jesus meant when he said “make them one with you as you and I are one”

I want to share something I started praying a long time ago. “Father help me pray prayers you will answer” ……then I wait, I do pray in the spirit….

I dont pray the way every one wants me to all the time! why? Because I asked him how I should pray! and not for MY WAY but I have learned how I have learned, truly HIS way is better than mine. Always! HIS way is better than mine. And God doesn’t send trials my way the devil does! God’s always GOOD the devil (always bad) We let the enemy in at times THE DICIPLINE OF GOD (asking for correction) is to have him show you how YOU are letting the enemy in! I tell ya I was so jumpy about asking God for correction the first few times but it’s a BLESSED THING to not get my way! And have him show me HIS!

I know it seems like double talk to say ask and you’ll receive and then say God says no to some stuff ASK HIM WHAT he wants to do! (for you) this is about relationships! WE are not serving a God that is distant, or aloof or doesn’t WANT US To know him! HE WANTS US TO KNOW HIM! ……..Everything he does is to HELP US know him Better!! If we would only just get that! and not think he’s on our case all the time, or holding out on us!

He Just …..WANTS US TO KNOW HIM! I promise He really does!

With Love! by Laura Grace Author, speaker. your sister in Christ-and stay tuned for my upcoming book! it’s going to be great 🙂

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Formulas Part 2 “let not your heart be troubled” …how can we make this so?

October 25, 2016October 25, 2016 Laura GraceLeave a comment

a-new-covenant

When the disciples decided to follow Jesus, they were also accepting an invitation to enter into a Covenant with Him. As they walked with him, he was allowing them to see, hear, and learn about him, and then finally decide, whether they wanted to be “IN Covenant” (or not).

Judas chose not to do that, as he decided at the end, his answer was “No.”

This morning as I was thinking about the elections, the condition of our nation, and all the things I am hearing about the subject, I thought wow are we really in this Much trouble Lord? It’s scary (I thought) Some of the things we have heard……

Immediately the passage “Let not your heart be troubled” came to heart and mind. I already knew what it said after that, but I looked it up anyway, thinking “teach me Lord” what you are wanting to say to my heart.” ……..

See, I’ve read this scripture numerous times. Today I saw “Oh, so right after You said let not our hearts be troubled,” You said “In my house are many mansions.” Sounds like “don’t worry, because you get to die, then come up here with me, and all will be well!” Great answer! “pray for death?” …….Oh come on, don’t tell me you haven’t thought that at least one time! Where do you think that statement came from, “two things you can count on, death and taxes!” ……(me looking all aghast here!)

Not long after (in John 14) Jesus adds “Ask what you will it shall be done that we might be Glorified” …(paraphrased) OH So .…It’s for his names sake! OH WOW a very big clue as to “how our prayers” should be shaped ……..

Yes yes, he’s the potter we are the clay. but you CAN KNOW what he is up to (if you care to know!). “I want to shape your prayers to think like me……” (more covenant stuff here) so we are in partnership with God himself! and He wants us to know HIS Desires so we can pray HE can be glorified! oh and Greater works will we do than HE (He said) WOW!

Just be careful, “greater things” Is still HIS Ideas not our own ideas! oooo because we still have to watch out for that enemy (satan) who says “I can be exalted and I have better ideas than God does” (OH DEAR LORD!) …….

Formulas: We want them because we are too lazy to pray (sometimes) or it’s just too much bother to “GET TO KNOW THE LORD” ……Oh how sad that is!

Tell you what, Let’s get together and pray Father, what do you want in this situation? What would you like to see happen? This is YOUR earth YOUR PLANET and I am yours!

ALL You have is mine, because All I have is yours Father God! Covenant (like marriage) and let me tell you something, Your MARRIAGE To God takes precedence over every other commitment or, it should………….right? ………..

So we have a lot to look forward to people of God “BEFORE” we go to heaven! “Greater things shall we do “(in HIM) And Amen.

Laura Grace minister of the Lord Jesus and, his servant