We prepare before storms.  Like ants that prepare for their winter hibernation period, they work together and gather food during the warm months.

When everything is smooth sailing in your life, press in for more revelations to deposit into your heart so when storms come, you are armed with the Word of God as your offensive weapon.  Let praise and worship be a lifestyle that when pressure comes, you’re so used to doing the same.  The best part of it is when your pain and discomfort becomes the fuel of your praise, that becomes a sacrifice which is a sweet smelling aroma into His nostrils which He could not resist but compels Him to come and change you, your situation and the atmosphere around you.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield;
My heart trusted in Him, and I AM HELPED;
Therefore my heart greatly rejoices,
And with my song I will praise Him.”  Psalm 28:7 NKJV

This is one of the verses revealed to me in such a deep way lately.  Truly, my heart trusts in Him.  Trust is something that can only be experienced with our hearts.  Our minds cannot go beyond what our hearts can reach.  Trust is an expression of our confidence on Who God says that He is, His very nature and His very word spoken.  He is my strength and my shield and so HE IS and that I shall see!

When we are rest assured of Who He is, then hope kicks in that “WE ARE HELPED!”  A confident expectation of good rises up within that allows us to SEE His mighty move in our situations.  What we focus on we shall see!  When we focus on Him, then we shall see Him.

My second verse is as powerful as the first.

^“Thereafter, Hagar used another name to refer to the Lord, who had spoken to her. She said, “YOU ARE THE GOD WHO SEES ME.” She also said, “Have I truly seen the One who sees me?”  Genesis 16:13-14 NLT

When you are fully persuaded that God sees you, who can dare cancel what you absolutely believe?  Nothing and no one … unless you, yourself will allow your confidence to shrink into nothingness by the waves and wind that come your way.

I had an injured right foot recently caused by something unknown to me.  The pain was excruciating every time I put my weight on it.  I could hardly walk let alone drive.  But with God’s mercy and grace, He put “blinkers or blinders”on either side of my eyes like those of the horses.  They are a piece of horse tack that prevent the horse from seeing to the rear and, in some cases, to the side.  He made me focus on those two above mentioned verses.

I sought His face and drew strength from KNOWING that HE SEES ME!  I love the Amplified version of that verse that says ..”Who sees me with UNDERSTANDING and COMPASSION.” That simply means He understands the pain that I was going through and with His compassion, His love for me compels Him to do something towards me.  Remember that when Jesus is filled with compassion, miracles happen!  I knew in my heart that “I AM HELPED” and that He’ll speedily come to my rescue because He can’t just see and not do!  Love can’t resist SEEING without DOING!

In Mark 6:45-52, after the feeding of the five thousand, Jesus made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, to Bethsaida.  Then, He departed to the mountain to pray.  When evening came, the boat was in the middle of the sea; and He was alone on the land.  Then HE SAW them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. What a powerful written word this is that even if Jesus was miles and miles away from the disciples, HE SAW them!  Then, He came to them, walking on the sea, went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure, and marveled.

The very same night when I had an injured right foot, I meditated on these verses.  I anointed my foot with oil and released words of healing.  I declared what Jesus had already paid for.  When I got up and walked, every step that I took I would cry out “I am healed in Jesus’ Name”!  Painful it may seem, but when I did it, I couldn’t stop laughing.  JOY hit me like never before and that JOY in His presence became my strength (Nehemiah 8:10).   I asked Him at one point to heal me, but all I got was this answer .. “It is finished!”  Now, the ball is in my court in partaking of what His blood qualified me for, the RICHES IN GLORY OF THE INHERITANCE OF HIS SAINTS IN THE LIGHT (Colossians 1:12 NKJV) and one of them is healing and wholeness.

On the next day, the pain was subsiding and on the third day, it was totally gone!  The resurrection power of Christ in me totally delivered me from that misery!  And to top it all, because of an unknown reason of the pain, a God-sent someone who knew my situation first hand bought me a new pair of shoes to my surprise.  This is what we call blessings ADDED unto us when we seek Him and His righteousness FIRST!  Glory to God!

Thank You, Jesus!  Your Blood, Your Word, Your Name, Your Spirit, Your Presence DID IT ALL!  Who am I that You are MINDFUL of me?  The truth is simple .. I am Your beloved and You SEE me!  That’s all that matters!

 

Photo Credits:  Melai Gador Felicidario