Have you ever caught yourself grumbling things like, "I'm the only one around here who......," or "if he would......then I would......." ? Not long ago I found myself rolling these thoughts around in my head over and over. Wondering when someone in this house was going to understand what I needed and act! Honestly, these thoughts were mainly about my marriage and why Kevin wasn't "reading my mind" type of thinking! Now, generally I would like to sit down, have a chat and discuss how I'm feeling, what I'm needing, and how he can help me etc.... But, this time was different. This time when I was praying about how to have a talk about all this I felt the Holy Spirit encourage me to keep my mouth shut and just pray. Hmmmmm that's a task for sure!

As I began to obey and just pray about things I realized what was happening....a renewing of MY mind! In Romans 12:2 the word says to be transformed by the renewing of your mind.....through Him. As I began to pray about what I felt like I needed, the Holy Spirit kept bringing me back to "what do they need" and "how can you serve them." In the days following, I found myself looking at my family members differently. As I would interact with them I would wisper, "Lord what do they need from me?" and then I would listen! Does she just need me to love her today and not instruct? Does she need me to be an encourager and not the task master. Does he need me to initiate intimacy or just be still and be with him? Does he need me to just show respect and trust and not ask questions?

Also in Romans 12 it talks about not thinking more highly of yourself but with sober judgement. Hmmmm another task for sure! I tend to think on myself.......what I'd like, what I want, what I need etc.... But God is asking me to put myself in line behind those precious people He has placed in my care and to love them for Him.  

You see, God's desire is for us to live with a servant's heart within our own home. To be His hands, feet, loving arms around those who need to feel Him. So I'm trying to slow down, ask the Holy Spirit to guide me, and then responding.

So, what do they need from you today? Ask and He'll guide you!

Tracie

Let me just start off by saying....I hate...loathe...abhor...the devil. Am I being clear enough? My hatred and refusal to lay down for him runs deep within me. I will not succumb to his tactics in my life and especially in my children's life. I have not one pittance of patience for him. I refuse to let him run amuck in my house and by golly he WILL NOT WIN....EVER!

Ok....now that I got that off my chest...let me encourage you today with this...if the devil has been annoying you like a pesky fly, or running over you like a mack truck....have no fear...because Jesus had defeated him already through His death, burial and resurrection! This is my mantra as we enter into the Easter season.....Jesus has ALREADY won the war against the devil. We don't have to worry when we get into a battle with him....remind him...you HAVE ALREADY LOST.....now get lost!

This past weekend the 'ol devil tried and failed to attack one of my kids. Ok..it's one thing to come after me...but don't go after my kids. Nothing, and I mean nothing makes me more mad than to see the devil at work in one of my kid's lives. As I was praying and doing warfare on Saturday, God gave me a picture of what His Word does to a demonic spirit when it tries to attack. I could envision this little imp and my hand around its throat squeezing...everytime I spoke the Word out loud to it the squeeze got harder and the life of this thing got cut off. I literally had my hand in a fist imagining squeezing this thing to death as I spoke Isaiah 54:17 over it..."NO weapon formed against my child will prosper in Jesus name!" and James 4:7 "I submit myself to God....and Satan I resist you in Jesus name and you MUST flee!"  

Breakthrough came....praise the Lord! And also the reminder that we are not to "grow weary in doing good"...don't give up the fight....God is off His throne doing business on our behalf when we are standing and doing our part in fighting the devil.  So...do not despair my friend...if you need help in the fight...go...enlist some friends and family to fight with you.  You are not alone... Jesus and His Word are at your deposal to squeeze the life out of him who is attacking you.

In Him,

Elizabeth

Proverbs 30:5

Every word of God is flawless; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him.

I love, love, love this verse.  I've read it everyday for the past two weeks.  It makes me want to speak His Word out loud all the time!  As I have meditated on this verse, I can just see His Word becoming this shield around me as I speak it out. 

Why should we put His Word inside our hearts and minds? This is the answer. So it can become a shield around our life....protecting us, restoring us, encouraging us, healing us, giving life to our situations. When life comes at us...the Word, the flawless Word of God comes out of our mouth and we run into it and take refuge.

Don't you just love that we serve a God who is a refuge to us? I do. Where would I go when I needed help? No one here on earth can protect me and keep me like Jesus. This verse motivates me to put more of His Word inside of me. I want the Word to be the first thing that comes up out of me when I am squeezed by this life. I want it to spill out of me onto others so that they can take refuge in Him too.

The beautiful, inspired, powerful, Word of God. Go get some of it!

In Him,

Elizabeth