'By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. '
In the past, I have found myself wondering if the Lord would do as He promised concerning my mental health. Doubt has come when I felt like I would not see the promise of God fulfilled.
I have had ups in downs in my faith. There have been times I’ve doubted healing, deliverance, and a sound mind was going to happen for me. Have you also been holding onto a promise from God and sometimes feel like you won’t make it to that promise?
In Hebrews 11:17-19, we see a picture of the unwavering faith of a man named Abraham. God asked Him to sacrifice his only son Issac, despite Issac being a part of the plan to the promise.
Before we move on, let’s review the promise in Genesis 26:4…
"I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed,"
Issac is the man by which Abraham’s offspring would come. However, Abraham knew that God’s promise would be fulfilled despite God telling him to sacrifice hisonly son Isaac. (Genesis 22:2-3)
Abraham believed even if he sacrificed Issac, God could bring the boy back to life.
That is FAITH!
We read in Genesis 22:11-12 that just as Abraham goes to slaughter his son, the angel of the Lord appears. The angel of the Lord says not to lay a hand on the boy or do anything to him. The angel of the Lord knew based upon Abraham’s willingness to give his son that he feared God.
In Genesis 22:13, Abraham looks up to find a ram caught by its horns in a thicket.
God provided the sacrifice, just as Abraham believed he would! (Genesis 22:8)
I have found that faithfulness to believe in God’s promises for healing is where the journey to wholeness began for me.
So can you believe by faith that whatever your promise is, God will do as He said He would?
I encourage you to believe God in faith and to walk obediently. Your promise will come to pass. I know this because my mental health has improved throughout the past several years. I’ve seen God do and continue to fulfill His promise of healing to me.
I praise God that I have been free from self-harm for nearly two years. Additionally, I no longer struggle with suicidal ideation.
God is faithful sis!
In closing, Confess to God that you will stand in faith for His promise to you. If you don’t feel that you can, ask God for strength to believe that all His promises are yes and amen. He will strengthen you, which will build your faith in Him.
Pray this week:
Dear God, I need your help. I want to have faith in every promise you’ve made to me, but sometimes it can be difficult. I know that you know this about me already. Since you understand me better than anyone else, remind me of the times you have never failed me in the past. Show me how to live in your will and in obedience to you. Help me believe with the faith I have to give you. Thank you.
In Jesus’ Mighty Name,
Amen
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So, today I’m letting you ladies know where I’ve been…
But first, let me start by sharing that a large part of who I’ve been can be described by how I respond to life’s circumstances. I am and have always been sensitive. This sensitivity became even more obvious to me when I discovered the imbalance of the chemicals in my brain.
I live with bipolar disorder. This is nothing new to me, to be honest. My bipolar journey spans back to age 21. So it’s been a minute.
For the past several months I’ve been on a mental and emotional roller coaster. I’ve been on and off of my platforms more since August 2021. The loss of my pet last August led me deep into an ocean of sensitive emotions. My feelings of despair caught up with my chemical imbalance and life got pretty rocky.
All this to say, I learned something pretty eye-opening recently, which has led me back here.
It’s this…I can no longer allow feelings of oppression to catapult me into despair and pessimism.
From experience, I know that my tendency to be pessimistic about life leaves me in daily depression and a cycle of bipolar highs and lows.
I’ll have a journey with bipolar for the rest of my life. But, now I know something pretty amazing…
I still have some control over this thing!
Feelings are ok, but allowing them to control my everyday outlook on life is not. I may feel awful about something, but that doesn’t mean everything is awful.
So, it’s been a couple of weeks of work so far, but I’m working on not judging my life based on my sensitive feelings. I’m facing my feelings but choosing to still stand in faith with a perspective that I can still see life as a blessing. A blessing that I want to be a part of daily.
Also, I have to give credit where it is due. The Holy Spirit, @morgantracyj – my ministry mentor, and therapy all helped me come to this realization.
Since childhood, oppression has worked its hardest to attach itself to me, but no more will I be a slave to it.
Pray for my strength, my sisters-in-Christ!
Finally, I have to tell you that ministry has become a part of my daily life, and I’m committed to sharing my love for God, the power of prayer, and who He is in His word with all of you.
So if you see me fall off and it is on your heart, reach out and check on me. I’m praying I can do the same thing for you through my ministry.
How Do I Know What To Pray About? Written by Priscilla Henley on 01/17/2022 Series: Weekly Devotionals
Philippians 4:66 ’Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.'
Do you ever feel like life is throwing you concern after concern? Many of us experience anxiety from a myriad of circumstances. In the Word of God, Paul speaks about anxiousness. Anxiousness comes from worry, uncertainty, hopelessness, and doubt.
When we become overwhelmed by life, sometimes we spiral into confusion. We may want God’s help, but we are unsure what to pray. There can be so much on our minds. Sometimes we do not know what to say to God in prayer.
We can find hope in the scriptures, however. Philippians 4:6 says, “don’t worry about anything.” Another translation says, “Be anxious for nothing.”
The Word goes on to say, “but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Paul explains to the Philippians that they should not worry about anything. He says to bring everything to God in prayer.
Paul means anything. It includes your struggles, spiritual battles, family, employment, schooling, sicknesses, diseases, cares, worries, dangers, triumphs, victories, and more.
God’s ear is available to anything we want to share with Him as well. We can go to God with thanksgiving and present our requests to Him at all times. God is patient and caring. He shows concern for all that concerns us.
In conclusion, when you do not know what to pray about, write down every worry, concern, and source of anxiety. Write down what you are thankful for and what you are standing in faith for God to do in your life.
Then have a conversation with Him. He listens better than a close friend or family member ever could.
Remember, He is listening.
Place your trust in Him and pray about everything that’s on your heart. God is available to you.
Pray this week:
Dear God, Thank you for always being available to hear me. I bring everything concerning myself to you in prayer and petition. Hear my heart of thanksgiving as I bring every anxious thought and worry to your feet.
I have faith that you hear me and that you will answer.
Who Do You Run To In Times Of Trouble? Written by Priscilla Henley on 01/10/2022 Series: Weekly Devotionals
Psalm 46:11 “God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.”
Consider anything in your life that has become troublesome to you. Does that thing leave you feeling helpless? Has it drained you and made you feel like there is no way of fixing things?
Times of trouble can come at any time and in any form. My mental health has been a troublesome area of my life for many years. Depression drains me emotionally, physically, and mentally. When moments of unexplained sadness, pain in my body, fatigue, trouble focusing, and sleeping occur, I have become helpless.
Helplessness is so dangerous. Often helplessness leaves the perfect opening for the enemy to creep in with his form of help and guidance. He wants to influence us in our weaknesses.
In Psalm 46:1, we can find the saving grace from the helpless and troublesome places we find ourselves. God’s description in this verse portrays him as being always found in times of trouble. In other words, God does not avoid the issues and dilemmas that He finds us in. He does not have an attitude as if to say, “Oh well, that’s their problem.”
God is our helper. He is the place we find refuge. Refuge, being the protective place we run to in times of trouble. He is also our strength. He takes from us the heavy load of burdens that we carry. Ultimately God does it all. He takes care of all our needs in times of prosperity and trouble.
At this point, you have read the encouraging news that God is with you and me both as we face troublesome times. I encourage you to hold onto this promise. When the enemy lies to you and tries to make you believe there is no way out or you might as well give up, rebuke him and quote Psalm 46:1. You are not alone my sister. If you seek God, you are right where you belong, in His presence and care.
Seek God with your whole heart in dire circumstances. Turn from the influence of the evil one and embrace the fact that God is your refuge, strength, and helper.
Pray this week:
Dear God, You are my helper! I know that I am not alone in ____. I am covered by you, strengthened by you, and assisted through everything by you. Hide this truth in my heart that I may not forget and be deceived.
Don’t Doubt The Promises Of God Written by Priscilla Henley on 10/24/2021 Series: Weekly Devotionals
1 Kings 8:56
56 “Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised. Not one word has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.
Do you doubt the promises of God often?
When you do not see a shift in the direction God promised to take you, it oftentimes is difficult to trust the promises He has made. The promises that He made in His word and through the Holy Spirit.
In this 8th chapter of 1 Kings, Solomon dedicates the temple that the Lord promised King David He would build through one of His sons. King Solomon was the son to fulfill that promise.
During the temple dedication, Solomon stands with a loud voice and blesses the congregation of Israel.
He praises the Lord for His goodness toward Israel. God has given rest to them as He promised he would. Also, he goes on to say that God’s word has never failed. Every promise God made through Moses has not returned void.
I want to encourage you not to give up on God’s promises. If God can bring to pass a promise he made to David, He will fulfill the promise He made to you.
If God can deliver on His promises to the people of Israel, He can do the same for you. God works on His timing. It’s timing we often don’t understand. But, in His timing, He can build, deliver, heal, forgive, and so much more.
I challenge you to transform your doubts into solid rock faith that believes in God’s every promise. Don’t get caught up in the timing of things and the lies Satan will whisper to you as you wait. Believe in the substance of things hoped for and for the unseen God has promised you.
Take hold of the very same rest that God gave the people of Israel. Sit back and watch every promise He has made come to pass.
Prayer this week:
Dear God,
Thank you for being so faithful! There isn’t a promise that you have ever made that has returned undone or void. Father, help me to remain in faith. The wait may not be easy, but I humbly ask for your strength to persevere.
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