A Woman's Walk

[Judy Harder]

Week of March 11
Coming and Growing

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."
-James 1:17

People come, and people grow. This is true in all relationships—personal, business and ministry. There is a mutual pouring in and outpouring, each growing internally and externally until the next level is reached and promotion or expansion occurs, if we stay the course. We don't have to look far to see it in all directions: Our children grow up, our colleagues get promoted and volunteers in our churches advance.

I've learned to thank God for those he brings in and those He takes out. Some people just need a touch in our ministry, and they're ready to go. Others engage deeply. They are here to receive more, because there is a deep hunger in them for what's offered. A few even become pillars, assigned long term.

This is a normal flow of life, and God has no shortage of people. It's amazing to me that the Great Commission was launched through a few disciples and that, through them, and by the power of the Holy Spirit, the gospel was ignited throughout the world. Jesus does say in Matthew 9:37 that "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few."

Growth in the area of fruitfulness is a beautiful thing. Multiplication is a byproduct of the obedient, righteous seeds we sow in all areas of giving, including doing what God says, praying for others, extending acts of kindness and even offering financial contributions. The very nature of giving is nurturing. It offers a cycle of life that begets life.

It is important, too, that we keep our tent pegs light as God grows us, letting go of the former and depending upon God to bring the latter that will accomplish His purpose for each new season. We must move up and out at His command.

This life cycle keeps us humble. It is good for us. It keeps us fasting and seeking the Lord for His provision. It puts God first. Letting go is an ongoing process of faith, love and trust at many levels. And, I believe, it can be one of the greatest challenges we humans have to confront and walk through.

It helps to remember that, although people come and go, God is always a constant. The Apostle Paul says in Romans 8:38 that he is "convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." We can rest knowing that those of us who know the Lord will always have Him by our side on earth and eternally.

The last place we should want anyone to be is where God doesn't want them. With every relationship, we are tested in this truth. Do we make God our rock? Or do we hold on too tightly to that which the Lord has provided for a season? Often, if we hold onto the former people or things, we will not have the capacity for the latter. God promised Job in chapter 8, verse 7: "Then what you had in the past will seem small compared with the great prosperity you'll have in the future." God made good on his promise. Job 42:12 says, "So the LORD blessed Job in the second half of his life even more than in the beginning. For now he had 14,000 sheep, 6,000 camels, 1,000 teams of oxen, and 1,000 female donkeys."

Job didn't give up in the journey, and all that he had was multiplied and restructured. No doubt, Job's faith and trust in God also increased. When God is all we have, we find that He's all we need. We learn that we are perfectly positioned for a miracle breakthrough that will provide for us more than we've ever had.

God's plans and strategies are dynamic. Are you moving with Him? How is God ramping you up? Calling you up higher? Is there anyone or anything that you need to let go of to move forward? Is there anyone that you need to entrust to God?

Philippians 1:21 tells us that the Apostle Paul believed that "...to live is Christ and to die is gain." He knew that when his flesh died, he would be better. This is also true on earth as it is in heaven. Do you see the benefits of your flesh dying daily? Do you see your growth potential and fruitfulness in your life?

You are in God's promotion process. Learn all you can so you can honor God and see multiplication by your next assignment.

[Judy Harder]

Week of March 18
Work Balance

So what do people get in this life for all their hard work and anxiety?
- Ecclesiastes 2:22

I once knew a woman who literally worked herself to death. Katie worked seven days a week, starting on the job at 6:30 a.m. most days. I have no idea how she managed to squeeze in household chores or church activities, even though she was responsible only for herself, as Katie lived alone; she was divorced, childless, in her sixties and wanting to retire. But there she was every Sunday morning in church with her hands lifted high, praising the Lord. She loved God.

One day, at a Christian gathering, Katie did not show. This was a weekly event that Kathie hated to miss, so people asked around about her. But no one knew where Katie was. Her "spiritual daughter" consistently looked after Katie, picking her up for events, dropping her off, taking her to dinner, etc. But this particular week, Katie's spiritual daughter was out of town, a rarity.

A couple of days after our gathering, the phone calls began. "Have you heard about Katie?" friends asked.

Katie's spiritual daughter grew suspicious that something wasn't quite right when she called Katie's home a day after the gathering and received no answer. Another day passed and still out of town, Katie's spiritual daughter grew increasingly alarmed and called the police.

When they found Katie, she was slumped over on her bedroom floor. One report said she looked as though she had slid offer her bed. She barely had a pulse. Her Bible was open on her bed. And praise music could be heard from the stereo playing in the living room.

An ambulance took Katie to the local hospital, St. Joseph's. That's when I heard the news. A mutual church friend said, "If you want to see her, you'd better go soon." I was shocked, and as I headed out the church door, I thought I had better calm down first. So I bypassed the hospital on my way home, praying the whole way.

The next day, my husband and I headed out to the hospital. When we arrived, we headed straight to the floor and room that was given to me by my friend. But when we entered, the room was empty, and the bed looked as though it had been freshly made. I walked over to the nurse's station and inquired, "Where's Katie." The nurse stared at me for a moment before verifying the patient roster. She put the clipboard down, and looked up at me and simply said, "I'm sorry."

Katie died knowing her Jesus.

I cannot even begin to express the deep emotion that welled up in my heart for this poor woman. It all seemed so unfair. I knew that Katie was the eldest of 16 children and that she had been born into poverty in Appalachia, very close in proximity to my own family. She was in the process of waiting for her reverse mortgage to be approved, an answer to prayer, so she said. It appeared as though she was about to receive her breakthrough. And in a sense, she did.

After talking with more friends, I learned that, right before her death, Katie had begun having physical issues. But she delayed visiting the doctor. And then it was too late.

I wept and wept at this women's sad, sad life and her death. It touched me deeply. I knew that God was speaking to me somehow. In time, I realized that He purposed this experience to remind me to take care of myself along my life here on earth. Our bodies are living temples, and overwork brings dis-ease.

Overwork is not only imbalance, it is neglect of God's temple. A person can only take so much stress. I am reminded of this whenever I feel overwhelmed, especially with new projects. Only two remedies help me: Coming away with God, and accomplishing the workload systematically. I find that if I come away with God first, the workload doesn't seem so ominous. The Holy Spirit is always there to help us, to show us the way, forewarn us, to give us breakthrough. And sometimes, He waits for us to sit and sup with Him.

How much harder is our work, because we do not spend enough dedicated time with Him? Are we hearing His strategies and keeping first things first? Is He truly our first priority?

I am reminded of this lesson as another friend of mine recently fell off her office chair semi-conscious. She was rushed to a local hospital, where she remained for four days while tests were run. She survived and learned that she had been diagnosed with diabetes.

God loves us so much that He desires that we take time to care for ourselves physically, emotionally and spiritually. May we be reminded to live the life and do the purposed work God has called us to do in balance and in obedience to His ways.

[Judy Harder]

Week of March 25

Flight Plan
by Margaret D. Mitchell

"'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you, and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'"
-Jeremiah 29:11

Before every journey, pilots or flight operations staffers develop a flight plan. The flight plan contains basic flight information, such as the flight's start and end points and all the stops in between for refueling, deplaning and boarding new passengers. The plan also contains fuel usage, weather conditions all along the route, weight and balance calculations and locations, communications frequency channels and checkpoints and the estimated amount of time for the entire journey.

In addition to the flight plan, other tools are used for safety and accuracy: Checklists, maps (or sectional charts) and weather reports that include the types of cloud cover, visibility, temperatures, wind speeds and direction for the entire route.

When we consider our pathway, baggage, communications, climate, speed, vision, direction and fuel required to get through life, one might ask, "Where does God's hand begin and end?"

I have a friend who grew up in a Christian denomination that does not believe in pre-destination. But now that she has reached middle-aged, her views are shifting. As she reflects upon her life now she is able to see God's hand upon her from the time she was seven-years-old, when she received Jesus as Lord and Savior.

She sees how she acquired resources at an early age that planted seeds of knowledge and understanding, sprouting up in her young life, producing growth that is just now coming into full bloom. She gets the revelation now that God's design and hand of protection was upon her all along the way, that her life's journey was no accident, that it was planned and influenced by God. She understands that she exercised her willingness and faith along her journey.

God desires for us to soar with Him. He desires to take us from glory to glory, from holiness to holiness, into more of His likeness from the inside out (2 Corinthians 3:18). Nothing is small if it influences us: No teaching, learning, good deed or sin. And none of it gets wasted when we invite God into our lives. He uses it all for His glory. He will even turn our tests into testimonies.

Along with her revelations, my friend has experienced greater intimacy with God. She is full of zeal, and most of what she shares these days is how God is moving in her life, how He's using her, how He's fitting all the pieces of her life's circumstances together, how He has purposed it, how He is using her to influence and help others, how important she is to Him and how important her work is on earth as it is in heaven.

She is coming into a new level of awareness that she is the hands and feet of Jesus, as are you and I. And she is passionate about her calling and assignments.

I had a conversation with another friend recently in which the topic of television drama and horror movies came up. I shared my thoughts with her concerning the matter. My perspective is that when we live a surrendered Christian life, we will journey through multiple adventures that will take us to places that are unfamiliar to us, causing us to depart from our comfort zones and to receive a freshness in our lives, a renewed awareness of our humbling dependency upon God, which can quickly reset our priorities and focus (Deuteronomy 8:3).

When we truly walk out the Christian life, there will be little room for boredom or TV melodrama for the purpose of escapism. Horror is not entertaining when one truly connects with the awesome power of God. God is love, and nothing is more prolific. So why open a door for darkness to influence you and waste precious time with a counterfeit?

The point is that God does have a plan for our lives. And to surrender our hearts fully to Him and His ways causes us to sync up with His vision, timeline, communication, direction and purposes. There begins a love journey that involves great courage, careful obedience and sacrificial praise on a holy and intimate level that cannot compare to an ordinary life without God. God will take us higher and further than we can go on our own.

Are you willing to soar with Him? Is your heart fully surrendered? Do you desire greater intimacy with God, to know Him more? Have you ever felt the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit? Or experienced His perfect love? Once you do, nothing else and no one else compares. You will want more and more of Him. You will truly desire to live for Him.

Prayer: Father God, I choose to surrender my whole heart to You. Please enable me to receive and walk out Your plan for me on earth as it is in heaven. Show me more of You, more of Your love, more of Your presence in my life. Give me revelation understanding, based upon your scriptures, Your mind's eye, Your spiritual discernment and Your wisdom. Help me to process through life's circumstances Your way. Have your way in my life daily. I surrender my agenda to You. Please get me where You want me to be, and enable me to take hold of Your hand, take hold of great courage and trust You each step of the way Thank you for entrusting me with the great exploits that You have assigned to me. Help me step up to them Your way. In Jesus' name. Amen.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

[Judy Harder]

Week of April 1
Building Up

"From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work."  -Ephesians 4:16

It seems everyone I know is in a new season. The people in our ministry are no exception. Our ministry is in a building up phase—a directive from the Lord—and it's exciting to see all the creative things God is doing in our women's lives, personally and professionally.

One of our volunteer facilitators just secured a position with Smith Barney in New York City, a dream job, more than she expected. One of our volunteer worship leaders just confirmed her first television appearance, a major breakthrough. And one of our other volunteers just started a new business, a whole new level of courage and fortitude for her. All these women rightfully believe God opened the doors of opportunity, and they encourage each other. I have seen such a tight sisterhood.

I also have the great joy of serving as a conduit, mentor, mentee, teacher and student. I enjoy seeing how God works everything for His (and our) good. He has our best interest at heart. He is for us. And when we overflow in His goodness, we cannot help but pour out His goodness to others.

Ephesians 4:16 is the scripture God gave to us for this season of building up. And I find the Greek transliteration of the words quite interesting:

Joined – To organize compactly; to be framed together; to fit.

Held Together – Compacts; drives together; infers, shows and teaches; entrusts; assuredly gathers, unites; knitted together and proves.

Supporting – Contributing.

Grows – Increases

Builds – Structures, edifies, confirms.

Love – goodwill (agape).

Part – A share, a portion.

Proper – A measure (NASB version).

According – In varied relations (NASB version).

Work – Effectual working; operative power; strong; efficiency (energy).

As we analyze this scripture, we see references to chosen, energetic people, each working together to make a unique contribution of efficient, effectual work that results in personal and professional affirmation, confirmation and multiplication, increasing goodwill and proving themselves to be a conjoined powerhouse.

We also see that the outcome of this scripture is conditional on each part or party doing their assigned work.

What I like best about this scripture is that it clearly reveals that the multiplicity factor is achieved by doing only our part. We don't have to do anyone else's part. We don't have to fix anybody. We don't have to do the Holy Spirit's part. We just have to focus on the Lord and carry out our assignments, teaching by example, clarify and sharing along the way as the Holy Spirit leads.

By virtue of each person doing their part, each person strengthens the other in that we are inspired and constantly confronted with opportunities to discern, receive, teach, serve and forgive. If we take every issue that arises to God, He will give us His perspective on the matter.

Along the mission, God will use the things that irritate us to provoke us to come out of our comfort zones, to see people and things His way. Let us not appear foolish by insisting on our ways or viewpoints. Doing so is prideful arrogance, which usually involves an element of ignorance, because we do not see the "whole." Only God sees the whole of anyone or anything. It is His viewpoint that matters most, not our opinions. Thus, humility is also a factor.

It is important to not give up, but to depart only when God releases us from our assignments. This is especially important in terms of honoring God and His timing for us and His great exploits. It's about accomplishing His will His way. It's about building character in us. It is about waiting on the Lord before moving into the next place. Instead of giving up in the middle of His orchestration, chose to remind yourself of your commitment, press into Him for understanding and to help you press on towards the completed work. Anything less can cause us to be out of sync with God's flow and promotion process (Proverbs 4:5-8, Philippians 3:14).

Remember, too, we build ourselves up as we contribute to others and submit to God's ways. That which we do for others, God will do for us, including in the area of forgiveness. He will work on our behalf when we work unto Him, even if, and especially if, His assignment for us is not what we would have chosen for ourselves. This is sacrifice. It is the principle of sowing and reaping; good or bad, what goes around, comes around. Don't leave short of your reward. The enemy would like nothing more than to defeat you (Obadiah 1:15b).

Building up in this scripture does not refer to flattery (or manipulation), which the Bible speaks against. It does not refer to bossiness either, which may be rooted in self-righteousness. It refers to work, doing our part, and entrusting the Lord to do His part to bring the people and pieces together to create a tight bond of unity. Each person must choose commitment for this to happen. They must stay the course. Those who give up miss the opportunity to come up higher, to get free of their limited understanding and attitude. The scripture suggests that building up in love is a byproduct of the work that we do, in that as we work, we build goodwill. This applies internally and externally—building up the people and organizations that work with us and those we affect externally.

Clear direction from the Lord and those He places in authority is also a must. I have learned that if a team does not have clear direction, they each resort to what they know to do, based on each individual's prior experience and present mindset. Lack of direction breeds disunity, and the result is a fragmented mess and stunted growth, along with strife and disorganization, which can cause distraction, delay and unnecessary duress.

I marvel at how, if we just ask the Lord to help us see circumstances through His eyes, He will give us the revelation of how to turn every lesson and challenge into opportunities for us to come up higher, personally and professionally, and to inspire others to do the same, simply by example and by sharing appropriately as led by the Lord.

May the Lord continually lift you to stay on course and finish the work He has purposed for you to do in unity.

[Judy Harder]

Week of April 8
Practical Workplace Wisdom
by Margaret D. Mitchell

Managing frontline employees is no easy task, especially during these accelerated times in which we live and work. Add to this fast pace a high-tech, production environment and you've entered into a whole new level of agility.

Having been one of those managers and having been managed by those managers, I confess I've learned a few survival tips. I hope my lessons will prove to be your stepping stones:

When the Holy Spirit Moves, You Move

If you've ever received a "download" from the Holy Spirit, you know that you'd better have pen and paper in hand, a Word document pulled up or, at the very least, an electronic notepad or recording device ready.

As I entered my office one morning and sat in my chair, the Holy Spirit gave me an instant download that proved to be several pages long. In my human understanding, this seemed illogical and untimely, because what He gave me was job-related, but it didn't apply directly to my current job. It was to be fleshed out at another time. The reason He gave it to me at that time was because He was about to move me out of that position, and He wanted to give me a heads up and a jumpstart. He was doing me a favor. He was also testing my obedience. So be ready.

Praise God!

King David praised God several times a day. Where else would a king go? Find yourself a few nearby, private places within your office building that you can enter into to pray and praise. Doing so will refocus your mind on what's most important and give your fatigued brain a break. I found that I was most tested when I had the most on my plate. God always honors sacrificial praise. And I was fortunate to have had access to a few "quiet rooms."

Remember: In, Through & For

On the occasions that I felt especially buried under my workload, the Holy Spirit reminded me that He was doing a work within me, a work through me and a work on my behalf—all simultaneously. He is the ultimate multi-tasker. And at times, when I wished I were home instead of at my office, He reminded me that anything that I left behind, including my home, spouse, etc., was actually entrusted to Him, not forgotten or unattended. I gained an understanding that He does this for us when we obey Him to step into our divine assignments. And I learned that if I ask, "God what do you want me to see and know in this?" He will give us the revelation understanding to get through the journey. He's always preparing us for the next place.

Honor Authority's Perspective

When everything around me seemed to make no sense at all, such as shifting procedures midstream or massive quarterly restructuring, I learned to hang onto the hem of Jesus' garment and remind myself that I could get through the changes with Him at my side. God also showed me time and again that my authorities had more of a vantage point than I and that I should go with the flow without any negative response. Again, God tested me. And I learned that the faster I passed the test, the faster I moved forward.

Beware of False Authorities

Many of us have worked with these types. They're the ones that generate reports upon reports just because they can. They think more highly of themselves than anyone else; they waste their time and yours; and they duplicate efforts, plugging up efficiency. They are the distracters, the counterfeit authorities, the thorn in everyone's side. They're often politically well-connected and have safeguards in place at many levels and in many departments. They have been there a long time. Beware! Avoid them, step around them or step over them as much as possible without stepping on them. Send their duplicated work into the electronic trash can. Faithfully throw up a quick prayer for them. And keep smiling.

Streamline Your Efforts

For two and a half years, I worked in an environment where every minute counted. I had no choice but to learn shortcuts on my PC, cut away every unnecessary step in new processes and quickly establish a team of solution-minded individuals who could help me understand anything that I didn't and needed to know. This kept me humble; it kept me learning quickly; it stretched me; and it was good for me. I hurdled fear, and I realized I could do more than I had previously thought. It took me to a new normal, a new comfort level, a new confidence of "can do." I also learned to do tasks right away, which killed a lot of little foxes of clutter that can creep in when tasks set unattended.

Little Things Help

During this super-accelerated season of my work life, I learned to streamline my home life as well. Even the simplest things helped in a big way: I trained my mind to think of God first in the morning. So before I got out of bed, I spoke affirmations and praises. I kept my grandmother's Bible within an arm's reach of my bedside and learned to discipline myself to open it and read it before I showered, dressed or sipped my first cup of coffee. I kept slip-on shoes by the garage door, so I didn't have to take time to tie. I chose a simple hair-do and a basic "uniform," consisting of a top and trousers with very few, if any, accessories. The beauty in this was that I became more aware of simple processes at home and was able to refine them. I caught up on sermons and listened to praise music on my iPod while I worked, which reduced a lot of stress for me, because it helped me keep God at the forefront of my mind at the office. And the value of a single minute became invaluable.

[Judy Harder]

Week of April 15
Direction

"May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise You, O God; may all the peoples praise You. Then the land will yield its harvest, and God, our God, will bless us."  -Psalm 67:3-6

Recently in the news, a local resident walked through a construction zone and accidentally stepped into mud so deep, he needed rescuers to pull him out. One might ask, "Why was he there in the first place?"

Well, perhaps if his heart had been sensitive to the Holy Spirit, He would have heard a forewarning. I don't know whether this man knew the Lord. But certainly there were obvious signs all around the danger zone.

The enemy tries to lure us into bondage through deception, even though signs are clear. And thankfully, nothing is too difficult for Jesus, our rescuer.

This story reminded me of The Solid Rock lyrics, "On Christ, the solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand. All other ground is sinking sand."

God's direction implies sensitivity of heart, hearing, vision, authority, obedience, order and honor. And moving forward in anything—whether personal or professional—should not be done without a firm foundation in Christ. 1 Peter 2:4 tells us, "You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God's temple. He was rejected by people, but He was chosen by God for great honor."

Nothing replicates a solid foundation. And, like that local resident stuck in mud, if you find yourself sinking and stuck, God may be trying to get your attention to return to your solid Rock foundation.

If it seems as though God is not providing for you, it could be because He's trying to awaken you to something you forgot: To maintain the foundation.

It's not enough to build the foundation (your relationship with Jesus) and then move on. It's not enough to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior and then put Him on a shelf and go about our day. What we focus on determines the condition of our heart.

Concerning your goals, it's best to not be so forward thinking that you forget about the foundation you have built previously, a kind of "I've got it from here" mentality. When we do that, there will be no fruit going forward. Forgetting our foundation makes way for the terrorist, our enemy to destroy all that God tries to build through us. And we will eventually sink.

God wants to be first. And whatever we give priority to will be magnified and multiplied. Whatever is nurtured will grow. It's wise to check the condition of our hearts. If we are spending much time working to build projects and little dedicated time with God, we will hit a wall, a blockage. And our lack is the enemy's gain.

Need a recovery strategy?

Root it out:Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what issue is at the root. The root can usually be traced to some form of disobedience. And the disobedience could have been initiated by a wound to the heart or a lure from the enemy. There's an old adage, "What God reveals, He heals." God does us a favor when He exposes the enemy's deception. In this way, God sets us up for repentance.

Redirect through Repentance:"Lord, I repent of idolatry and neglect of the foundation. I forgive others in this situation. Please forgive me and restore me to sensitivity towards You." The very nature of repentance is to switch directions, as in a 180 degree turn. Once we repent, Father God sees our sins no more, as the blood of His Son Jesus covers us. So it's important to also forgive ourselves. Don't let the enemy get a hook of false guilt in you. Once you are forgiven, you are forgiven. And remember, God forgives us as we forgive others. So forgive others if you want to be forgiven (Matthew 6:12).

Rebuke: Tell the enemy to get lost.

Re-invite: The Holy Spirit to re-set us in His righteous right order. Choose to re-trust Him and His ways along the journey, over our own. Don't be driven by success. Be led by the Holy Spirit Jesus was (Matthew 4:1).

Refocus: On God. Anything we put before God is idolatry. We should not make the projects and programs God gives us into idols by default. We should not be so focused on them that we decide that God can wait and then never get back to Him. When we take time to praise Him, He will work on our behalf in extraordinary ways. One of the biggest lies of the enemy is that we don't have time for God.

Rescue: God wants to re-work His plan for us, to replace the limitations of our idols and our ways with His unlimited love, glory, power and purpose. God wants to replace the heavy load we have taken on with His light yoke. God wants to resurface (smooth out) our jagged edges. God wants to re-fire (re-ignite) our joy (strength). God wants to re-fortify (nourish and protect) us by having us make Him our God and King in all areas of our lives. God wants to have us rethink, like He does, with the mind of Christ. God wants to rekindle His love in us for Him and others and restore kindness to us and through us to others. God wants to re-gift us so that we can be more of a gift to others. God wants to replenish us with mercy and grace and splendor, with His beauty and magnitude. He wants to re-sensitize our hearts to Him.

Return: To basics. Find the foundation. Unearth it. Clean it up. Embrace it. Carry it with you going forward. Stand upon it, and watch the hand of God move on your behalf.

Reprioritize: Priority is life, and whatever we give life to will overtake. Let's commit to making God our first priority.

Restore and be Restored: As we restore God as the priority in our life and work, He will restore us to the priority He desires us to have, according to His plan.

Rejoice: Praise comes before increase. And pride comes before the fall. That's God's economy. Our praise is our seed.

Reap Reward: When the increase comes, continue to give back to God and to others. In this way, you will build up His kingdom, His disciples. As you honor God, He will honor you. It's a continual choice going forward.

Anytime God calls us to do a new thing or great exploits, they should be built upon God's solid rock principles. If we step into the "unknown" without God, we will find that God will not meet us there to give us continued direction. Instead, He will expect us to return to Him first.

Where the enemy came to sift, God will re-sift us from the enemy's residue when we repent. In this way, God refines us further, increasing His character in us. He re-sets us on a high, above the low things. He will cause us to re-do things His way, to restructure. Repentance will revert the repossession that the enemy initiated.

The biggest lie of the enemy is that we don't have time for God. God is the most important person in our lives. Without Him, we will lose. We are left to our own devices, led astray. Sit and sup with God, and watch Him work on your behalf in ways you cannot imagine. Invite Him back. God is worthy of our respect, of time spent with Him, of dignity. Invite Him in. God wants to re-sort and re-wire us, ridding us of any addictions and idols. He wants to re-circuit our brains, and bring new order, to re-make our hearts anew. Are you ready?

Prayer: Lord, I relent my heart to You once again. Please remove everything from within me that is not of You. I rededicate my position, my projects, and my places to You this day. Come and have your way. I lay down my agendas. My position is Your position, my projects are Your projects. Come and re-prioritize, re-project, re-plan, re-place everything in my life that does not please You and align with Your will. I rededicate the foundation to You, the building plan to you, the people to You. God, I invite You to revisit the places and re-dig the wells that have dried up as a result of my sin. Restore the free flowing waters. Reignite my passion for You and the things of You. Restore the resources. Redeem the lost time. Redeem the opportunities. Re-open the doors. God, restore my intimacy with You. There is no better place to be than with You, oh Lord. God, restore the foundation so that we may build properly, and our building can stand. Restore the territory You gave me. Place me in right position with You. God, reposition me to a higher level of understanding, glory and authority. God, give me fresh insight and direction. Thank You for rescuing me. Thank You for resurrecting the foundation. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

Week of April 22
Healing & Deliverance
by Margaret D. Mitchell

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed."
–James 5:16

Recently, another ministry leader and I were discussing the topic of healing and deliverance. She had been seeing the Lord's freedom manifest in the lives of many for whom she had prayed, including her own family. But lately, she was seeing a particular issue arise in some people. It was as though they were stuck, and she was rightfully seeking the Lord on how to best help them.

I believe that, as prayer warriors, whenever we see a recurrence of any kind, it's cause for our attention. If it's a good recurrence, we need to continue to praise God for what He's doing. If it's a negative recurrence, we need to ask the Holy Spirit what's at the root of the issue. God may be trying to give us a new understanding that will bring us up to the next level in our gifting so we can know better how to help people.

If you are continuing to grow in your faith and pray for others, you have likely found yourself at this intersection, probably more than once, as God takes you from glory to glory, from holiness to holiness. Here's encouragement for the journey:

Store Up, Don't Give Up

Revelation 5:8 tells us that our prayers are incense stored in golden bowls in heaven. It is important to remind ourselves that God receives our prayers, even if we do not see the manifest breakthrough immediately. Sometimes, restoration is instantaneous, and sometimes it is a process. Don't give up. James 5:16 informs us "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results." Hebrews 4:12 says "For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." Faithfully declare God's word over the person for whom you are praying until you see a shift or until the Holy Spirit gives you peace.

God Honors Human Will

In John 5:6, Jesus asks the paralytic whether he wants to get well. In order for people to be healed and delivered, they have to receive it. Sometimes, a person can grow comfortable in a place of dysfunction. They can even believe in God but not truly know God. If a person doesn't know God—in that they do not have an intimate relationship with Him—they can have difficulty trusting God to help them step into a new place of divine health and wholeness. Sometimes, people would rather stay in the old, dysfunctional place because they are too afraid to exercise faith and take God's hand and trust Him to lead them into the "unknown." This type of fear is the enemy's counterfeit to God's faith. And our brains are not wired to function well this way. God respects our will. He does not force anything on us, because His very nature is love. And where there is divine love, there is the freedom to choose Him and His ways over ours or the enemy's. Sometimes, it's important to bind fear, loose faith and pray for the person to receive God's healing and deliverance (Matthew 16:19).

Effective Focus Works

Whatever we focus on grows. Full of faith, Paul speaks of this process in Philippians 3. In verses 12-14 Paul says, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." This is the sanctification process at its finest.

Unfortunately, not everyone we pray for will have this much faith and fortitude. However, Luke 17:6 tells us that if we "have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and planted in the sea,' and it will obey you."

That said, if you have been praying for someone for a long time, and they seem to just be stuck, it is possible that the person for whom you are praying has focused on and embraced the dysfunction for so long that a stronghold has not only taken root, but they are blind to it. Pray that God will pierce the darkness and open their eyes to His truth, enabling them to fully receive His freedom.

Counseling and support groups can be effective for helping people understand their issues and receive emotional consoling. But it's important that the spiritual component in every person's heart also be addressed so that they do not make an idol out of the counseling process, counselor or support group. Jesus died so that we could have freedom and abundant life, not to continually stir in the issues of life. We are called to get on the other side of every issue. This is the Christian's sanctification process. And it requires the courage to trust God and exercise faith to step into the next place of freedom.

Be Stronger Than The Stronghold

Once a stronghold is formed, it needs to be dismantled. Leading people to the Lord and encouraging them to study God's word helps immensely, because as their faith increases, their fear decreases. As faith rises, so does their belief in God and their courage to trust Him to enter into the new place of freedom. Faith comes from hearing God's word, and faith in God will help them feel safe and establish trust.

It's important to understand that sometimes the enemy assigns demons, such as familiar spirits, to the person to deliberately hold them in bondage. This can occur especially when a person has been operating in the dysfunction for a long time to the point where the dysfunction seems "normal" in their mind and heart, having bought into the enemy's lie. But there is hope in God's truth. Coming out of a stronghold involves repentance, forgiveness, renewing one's mind and behavior modification. And it doesn't have to take a long time. God can do an instant work, or it can be a layered process. According to Dr. Caroline Leaf, a Christian neuroscientist, science now knows that our brains can be re-wired in 21 days. Pray accordingly and be ready to lead the person through prayers and encouragements. If you don't know how, find someone who does; and scour the gospels. There are also lots of good teachings available that can help you understand how to help people in this regard.

Choose Blessings, Not Curses

Galatians 3:13 tells us that "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us..." Jesus not only died to save us from the grave and hell. He died to give us a curse-free, divinely healthy life. But if the person doesn't know this, they may believe otherwise. Hosea 4:6 tells us that "My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge..." The New Living Translation of the Bible puts it this way: "My people are being destroyed because they don't know Me..."

If the person doesn't know God's truth on this matter, they may simply be defeated for lack of knowledge. How can anyone believe or declare a thing they do not know? Believing anything other than God's truth is a false belief. Perhaps they are deceived? Perhaps they are living under generational curses simply because they were taught that they are where they are because they inherited genes from their parents who lived under the same circumstances. Perhaps they do not know that the power of the cross also has the power to break curses. Lead them to scripture and pray for their mind to be renewed, for them to understand that they have a choice and for them to exercise their faith accordingly.

When The Inner Becomes The Outer

Physical dis-ease can often be the result of inner unresolved issues. Unconfessed sin—knowingly or unknowingly—can be a big culprit here, especially in the area of unforgiveness. Soulish (mental and emotional) turmoil will eventually work its way to the body if left unattended. Our bodies are not designed to carry big burdens long term. Matthew 11:30 tells us "For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light."

A remedy is to ask the Holy Spirit to make a clean heart in them and in you. He is our helper, and He sees more than we. So ask Him to reveal the person's hidden sins to them daily, as well as the root of the issues, so that they may be confessed and in right standing with Him. You may find that sometimes, the Holy Spirit reveals a thing or two, and sometimes, He reveals a list. Each item must be confessed and persons involved forgiven, a very humbling process. Ask the Holy Spirit to fill them and you with His light and goodness.

Holy Spirit Will Lead You

James 5:16 is one way that God heals. By all means, be led by the Holy Spirit. God is the one doing the supernatural work, not us.

God's desire is that we live healthy, whole, significant lives purposed to worship Him and to build His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. The enemy would like nothing more than to halt God's plan through dis-ease, worries, distress, strife, idolatry, etc.

Every seed of prayer helps set people free. Keep the faith. And if you're praying for people who live at a geographic distance from you, you can always pray that God will continually send strong Christians of His choosing to reach out to those who need help. You can also pray that the Holy Spirit will chase them down until they receive all that He has for them.

Concerning yourself, pray for wisdom and for the Holy Spirit to lead you to the sources and resources that can help you continue to understand all that God has for you and to learn how to best pray for others.

As we reach out to help others, we will be amazed at how God will grow us in knowledge and wisdom, which will then be reproduced as we teach others what we have learned. To Him be the glory.

[Judy Harder]

Week of April 29
Transition
by Margaret D. Mitchell

"Go through the camp and tell the people, 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the LORD your God is giving you for your own.'"
-Joshua 1:11

Recently, an old friend, whom I hadn't heard from in years, called me. In the course of catching up, she mentioned that she was in transition. Like her, I've heard many other people say they were in transition. Essentially, they mean that they have been alienated from their former place, and they were seeking the Lord about where He desires them to go next.

But oddly enough, the word "transition" is not in the Bible.

However, the Hebrew root word "abar" is and it essentially means to "alienate." And the Greek word "nun" refers to "present time, now."

There are two inherent implications to what we describe as transition: Instruction and identity. Simply put, "Who am I now, and where do I go next?"

In Joshua 1:11, we see that God's instruction to Joshua is very specific. He instructs Joshua (the earthly authority who will carry out God's plan and purpose) how and what to instruct others who are under his authority ("Go through the camp and tell the people 'Get your supplies ready..."). He gives them a timeline (three days). He gives them direction ("cross the Jordan here"). He reveals His purpose for them ("...take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own").

When we have a close walk with the Lord, our God, He will reveal His how, what, when, where and why to us. And every one of these elements of instruction will confirm our identity in Him. In this light, our identity is secure.

Ungodly fear is the only element that can cause us to feel overcome by circumstances and propel us into confusion. That's why God fortified Joshua at the outset of his assignment in Joshua 1:5-9:

"No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go."

God set Joshua up with a strategy for success in the past, present and in next place. Joshua did not grope in darkness. He moved forward knowing God had chosen him. He moved forward knowing God was with him and for him. He moved forward prepared and equipped. Joshua knew God. And God was true to His word. God did not forget Joshua during the journey.

This is an important reminder for us as we journey through life. Just as God revealed His strategy for success to Joshua, He will reveal His unique strategies to us for every mission He assigns to us, the purpose being to fulfill His purposes and plans on earth. We are His hands and feet. And we are commanded to put faith to action. Love is a verb. And if we love God, we will have a great desire to do for Him.

Notice in Joshua 1:7-8, God forewarns Joshua to be careful and that his carefulness to obey God's instruction is directly related to his success:

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful."

What we consider transition is really part of God's assigned mission for us. It is a divinely-designed, strategic, dynamic movement of God. We are not just floating in time and space, taking up oxygen or without purpose, even if we are unemployed, alienated from our church or losing loved ones. Do not believe the enemy's lies otherwise.

And know that, sometimes, God brings us into a season of rest for the purpose of restoring us from our former assignment and readying us for the next assignment. Divine rest is a place of reflection and fortifying, a crucial prelude for the next battle.

Incline your heart and attune your ear to the Lord. Ask Him to enable you to hearken to His plan for you to fulfill His purpose. This will honor God and cause you to sync up with Him and His ways on a success journey that will prove more than you can think or imagine.

[Judy Harder]

Week of May 6
Loving One Another
by Margaret D. Mitchell

But we don't need to write to you about the importance of loving each other, for God himself has taught you to love one another.–1 Thessalonians 4:9

Recently, I attended a family funeral. We have a large family that fills a room with love and conversation and hugs and tears and years of shared memories. My father is the best storyteller I know, and one of the ways God uses him to minister to my cousins, who have lost a parent, is to sit with them and share heartwarming stories of his time spent with their parent on job sites, during fishing expeditions and in places and situations they would not have known otherwise. Dad's stories and his prayers are his greatest gift to them at a time like this.

Loving one another is inherent. God designed us this way. And taking dedicated time to express love and bear one another's burdens is invaluable and should be a top priority for us all.

It seems funerals are held on weekdays much of the time, which isn't very convenient for loved ones who work. Yet, the coordination of all the family members' logistics were pretty amazing for this particular funeral, as each person attended to not only show their respect but to serve one another. In this, I witnessed God's abundant grace. 

For example, my brother worked the day before the funeral, then departed his home that evening at midnight, drove seven hours, had breakfast at Mom and Dad's, then donned a suit, drove to the funeral home to serve as a pall bearer, then drove back home for work the next day. My cousin-in-law came in the day prior and served similarly. And all of the immediate family members stayed in town for a week to offer support and comfort.

James 1:27 reminds us, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted..."

Like funerals, life offers us many opportunities to serve others in brotherly love.

I recall a woman who once shared with me that she had been widowed at a young age. I was surprised to hear this and to witness the wisdom that poured from her by having gone through that situation. One of the most memorable things she shared was that, when a loved one passes, widows are encapsulated in a kind of grace bubble. But then, after the family and friends go home, the painful reality of separation hits hard. I remembered her words in my mind and heart as I recently hugged my widowed aunt good-bye to return home. I know continued prayers will help her, but I also know that taking time to visit her will also help her know the love of Jesus in a unique and tangible way. We are His hands and feet.

Shortly after this funeral, I flew to Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. It was as though God wanted to further instill this principle in me.

Everywhere we turn, people are in need. Do we choose to take time for them? Are we too busy to help them? Are we surrendering our agendas to God? Are we praying for divine appointments? Serving others? Are we willing to be inconvenienced to help someone else?

Dad is old school. He doesn't care about computers or electronic devices beyond what is necessary in his life. The wisdom that pours from him reminds me to make people a sincere priority, an intentional pursuit. This is brotherly love. It honors God and keeps our heart pliable and connected to what's most important.

Romans 13:9 reminds us to "Love your neighbor as yourself."

Sometimes, we need to ask God how He would have us love and serve. Sometimes, we need to slow down and take time. God is love, and His ways are higher than ours. He sees the whole heart of every person and every situation. He has just the right strategy for you to love and serve. Proverbs 3:6 reminds us to "Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take." Psalm 37:4 reminds us to "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

Prayer: Lord, I surrender my heart to you, and I repent of not having taken the time you're your people. Show me how to best love and serve them. Give me Your eyes to see, Your ears to hear, Your heart to know. Open doors of opportunity for me to love and to serve, and enable me to receive Your strength to do it Your way and in Your time. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen.

[Judy Harder]

Week of May 13
A New Day
by Margaret D. Mitchell

"Light is sweet; how pleasant to see a new day dawning."
-Ecclesiastes 11:7

Recently, I had the great pleasure of vacationing alone with my husband for an entire week, which we hadn't done in several years. Oh, we would come away for long weekends here and there, but the responsibilities of work and ministry were such that we had put off long trips. So when, on this first morning of our island vacation, I awakened very early to a loud rooster crowing, this new day's dawn did not feel so pleasant: My eyes flew open; my brain was instantly alerted; and I wondered why on earth this was happening. Yet I knew I was where God wanted me to be. And so I prayed, "Lord, what is this?"

After drifting back to sleep and awakening to that rooster's crow several more times, I decided to get up and have quiet time on the veranda. Our private porch was decorated in beautiful Spanish-style spindles and floor tiles, white flowing curtains that framed arches and a lovely lush, green view. The furniture was brown wicker with white cushions, and there was even a big, round wicker ottoman, which I loved. The morning breeze was cool, which provided for an even more perfect place to come away with my Jesus and my Holy Spirit.

In the stillness and study of this setting, the Lord impressed upon me that this was a new day for me. He revealed that the seeds of service that I had planted for so many years as a flight attendant had produced a harvest of luxury accommodations on this trip that were beyond what I had ever experienced. He revealed to me that taking a step to come away for an extended time was the first step to greater balance in my life. He reminded me that His time is not linear, but it is circular. And He showed me that when events come back around in our lives—even the relatively small details, such as hotel accommodations—the experience is greater when we process through them God's way (Job 8:7).

I soon understood that it was time for me to awaken to a new level of abundance and that pride and fear had been holding me back.

As I prayerfully searched scripture, the Holy Spirit led me to Matthew chapter 28:

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: 'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.' Now I have told you.' So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. "Greetings," he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, "You are to say, 'His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

When I read this chapter verse by verse, could see a clear process of how God's new beginning would flow in my life for such a time as this:

God knows the love in my heart for Him at the outset (vs. 1). A new, powerful action will occur from heaven to earth as an angel is sent out ahead (vs. 2). God will show up in a way I've never seen (vs. 3). Evil will fall away (vs. 4). An angel from God will comfort me (vs. 5). I can expect a new understanding, new evidence and a new hope to emerge (vs. 6). God will provide me with the right timing, new direction and new instruction (vs. 6-7). I will have joy (vs. . Jesus will meet me there (vs. 9). I will worship Him (vs. 9). He will provide more direction and instruction, which will lead to a new, glorious report and multiplication in my life and in others lives (vs. 10). The enemy will plot against God's truth (vs. 11-15). But I will be obedient (vs. 16). Yet, not everyone will believe (vs. 17). Still, Jesus will move forward and declare His truth (vs. 18). And He will commission me to move forward in His authority (vs. 19) and assurance (vs. 20).

When we come away with God, He will show us great and mighty things. He will reveal His mysteries to us. He will expose issues of our heart, purify us and restore us. He will cause us to rejoice over His new beginnings for us. He will free us up to receive greater increments of all He has for us.

Are you in need of a new day's dawn, where heaven shows up and the old order of your life shifts into the new? Ask God to get you there. Remain close to Him, repent whatever the Holy Spirit reveals to you. Receive His forgiveness. And He will speak to you and help you get where He has called you to be and do what He has called you to do in greater measure.