My Daly Outreach Ministries Blog: The Devil Didn't Win

My Daly Outreach Ministries Blog: The Devil Didn't Win: Mark 1:8 I  baptize  you with water, but he will  baptize  you with the Holy Spirit!” On Sunday, February 9, 2014, my husband Bri...

The Devil Didn't Win

Mark 1:8

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit!”

On Sunday, February 9, 2014, my husband Brian and I were baptized by Pastor Falwell at Thomas Road Baptist Church in our new home town of Lynchburg, Virginia.  Even though Brian was saved at age 8 and myself at age 11, neither of us had taken this public display of faith as believers.  

The beautiful and Holy Spirit filled moment you see in the picture was the very opposite of how our morning had gone up until that time.  From the start, the devil began his work in hopes of stopping this precious moment in our lives.  Brian woke not feeling well but determined.  I was worried about him and then of course, we were rushing and running behind, which puts everyone in an ill mood.  Upon arriving at church, we find not one handicapped space for Brian so I forced him to get out at the door, which he hates, and Taylor and I left him to park the car.  Unfortunately, as we ladies do from time to time, I had chosen a beautiful yet extremely painful set of heels to wear and by the time I reached the lobby of church my feel were throbbing.  

We attended the first service but I continued to worry about how Brian was feeling and if he was overdoing it.  When service was over I had to go back across campus to pick up Taylor so that she could watch us be baptized.  When I arrived her girl's small group was missing.  They arrived 15 minutes later and then we realized Taylor had misplaced her security sticker which had to match my sticker in order for her to leave with me!  Thankfully, her small group leader vouched for me and we were off.  With feet numb now from the pain we raced back to the sanctuary.

I found Brian standing with our friend Pastor Matt Wilkins.  He turned to me and simply said, "Hey, Jessica, how are you?"  I instantly burst out crying!  I hated it so bad but all my emotion from the morning burst out.  Without saying another word, Matt took our family together and began to pray peace over us.  I could feel the peace of God coming over me and my weeping began to stop.  We walked up to the baptistery and from there the rest is history.  

I tell you today that anytime you are walking in the will of God the enemy will be present and will stop at nothing to interfere and cause you to give up.  Don't give up! God will give you the strength when you are weak! Just look at the picture again.  I made it to the pool and the devil didn't win!

Walking Into the Wilderness

Matthew 4:1 "Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.

How often do we find that when we follow the direction of the Holy Spirit we find ourselves alone?  I do quite often.  The Holy Spirit speaks things to me that others were not meant to understand or accept.  I am given messages and instructions of what I am to do for the Lord.  Many times as we walk in obedience to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, those closest to us become confused and at times frustrated with what they believe are our decisions when in reality they are not.  

When Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness it was to be tempted by the devil himself.  I am sure this did not make sense to those closest to Jesus.  Why would He go there?  This was a dangerous place and He would be all alone.  I am sure those who loved Jesus feared for Him as He walked away from them that day, yet Jesus was obedient to the Holy Spirit.  It also shows us that when we are obedient it doesn't mean it will be an easy journey.  There may be challenges alone the way that we could never have anticipated, yet just like Jesus we must keep our eyes on Jesus and use the Word of God as our weapon of defense!

We may also find ourselves feeling alone when we are walking in obedience.  Jesus went into the wilderness alone for what He had to do for God was for Him alone.  If the Holy Spirit directs you to do something alone it may be that you are the one called by God to do it and no one else.  Instead of being afraid, take it as a compliment, and embrace the opportunity to be a part of something amazing!

In reality we are NEVER alone when we are walking in obedience to God and following the directions of the Holy Spirit.  Don't be afraid to walk into the wilderness.

Are we thinking of God or the Problems?

And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. Philippians 4:8

How much of our time do we spend thinking about the circumstances in our lives and all that is wrong?  I would guess quite a lot. The struggles of our lives overwhelm us and begin to consume our thoughts if we allow it.  Instead our focus must remain on our God and His promises to us.  

God promises to never leave us nor forsake us.  He promises to bless us and make our lives prosperous.  He promises to love us unconditionally and to save us from our sins.  The only thing we must do is love Him, accept Him as Savior, and live by His Word.  That sounds easy enough but we all know it isn't easy and that it takes daily dedication but when we do, all these promises begin to be revealed in the physical within our lives.

When the enemy comes to us and begins to speak words of discouragement and lies to us we must run to the Word of God.  As we read the Word of God aloud, the devil must flee.  It is also imperative that we come into a place of communion with God through prayer.  We must pray and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit, too.  During these times, the troubles of our lives may not disappear but they do fade in our mind's eye.  They are no longer our primary focus.  

Today, I beg you to spend your time thinking about the Lord instead of the problems!

I Feel Some Drops

Several weeks ago, a dear friend and mentor in Christ, sent Leviticus 26:1-13 to my family as a Word from God.  We embraced the scripture's meaning for it spoke to a promise God had made to us nearly 3 years ago about a blessing to come for not only our family but for many others. Since December, God has been speaking to my husband and I readying our hearts and preparing our minds for what we knew was soon beginning to happen.  The scriptures in Leviticus told God's chosen people what He expected them to do when He showered them with blessings.  He gave them specific instructions which we know continue to be relevant for us even today.

Verse 4 tells us that God will give you your blessing in due season which means in His perfect timing and when you are ready for what God has in store for your life.  If He gives it to you before you are ready, it will never work out.  You will not know what to do or when to do it.  The blessing may actually be wasted or used unwisely.  You nor the Lord wants that!

Today, I saw the beginnings of that blessing happening right before my eyes.  It was small in retrospect but it was part of the things we have been praying for in connection to this blessing.  I consider it like when you are walking outside and you begin to feel a few random rain drops. You look for cover for you know very soon the downpour will begin.  Today I felt a few drops and I am praising the Lord for the downpour to come!

Because I Believe

"Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!” Luke 1:45

Just today God used this scripture as a tool of confirmation!  Weeks ago God gave me this amazing verse along with the meaning in a new and innovative way.  Mary was blessed because she believed God would fulfill the promises which He had made to her.  We all love the promises of God but yet how many times do we actually believe them 100%?  I can answer by saying that most of us live only "HOPING" God will come through.  

The more we believe in our heart, soul, and mind that God will do the things He tells us He will do in the Bible, we will begin to see them take place in our lives.  I was having doubts that the Holy Spirit was really speaking to me last night.  This morning I went to church praying for God to assure me that it was really Him and not my imagination.  Soon after church, a dear friend sent me a text message including Luke 1:45!  I knew immediately that it was indeed God who had been speaking to me.  

God can use scripture in so many ways.  Open your heart and mind to what God can do in your life through His Word!  Believe and begin to receive!

Please, Get In My Boat!

He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. Luke 5:3

I read this scripture today and saw it in a new way that I felt compelled to share with you.  Jesus got into the boat and after this encounter, Simon Peter was never the same.  He knew that Jesus was special but he had no idea how being with Jesus would change in his life forevermore.  

Being close to Jesus brings us closer to the love and blessings of our Savior.  After we experience the love and favor of Jesus first hand we have no choice but to believe His Word and promises to be true.  Blessings can come in the form of physical healing, emotional healing, financial blessings, or even seeing your dreams and the desires of your heart happening right before your eyes.  

Being close to Jesus is where I want to remain.  He tells us that He will never leave us nor forsake us so why wouldn't we invite Him to jump into our boat in 2014?