My right to chose cannot be taken.

In small group last night, one particular phrase stuck out to me, "When God's promises are no longer feeding me, I must feed on His faithfulness." We were talking about the story of Joseph (Gen. ch. 37-47) being sold into slavery, sent to prison and rising to a place of blessing and leadership. Stories like these help me remember God's faithfulness. Before group last night, I was having a bad day. Satan had really gotten me down about the details. So naturally I reached out to my support group. I am always amazed, although I shouldn't be by now, at how God gives me the answers I need and then confirms them multiple times, as long as when I ask, I'm willing to hear!



It actually started the night before. It was so bad, I couldn't seem to open my mouth to pray. It was like Satan had laid a burden on me so heavy I couldn't speak. Now, I've had nightmares about this very thing. Where I'm battling a demon and I'm unable to speak, and in this dream I rely on my spiritual support group to fight for me by speaking the scripture for me. In the dream, this causes the demon to flee, allowing me to speak again. My spiritual support group is my mom and grandmother. In the dream they are there.



My grandmother had sent me some political email about the current economy which opened a conversation about some of the issues I have been dealing with, so I responded to her email with some thoughts and a request for prayer. After I sent the email, I called my mom and spoke with her about some of the things on my mind. We had a rather lenghty, tear-filled conversation. But the summary of what she said was...,"Satan can't take what's most important from you, no one can except you." God was able to remind me, that life can only get me down if I let it.



In small group last night, the story of Joseph reminded me to be faithful, even when I can't see the end. Joseph is an amazing example of someone that went through very difficult circumstances and remained faithful to God. He became a great leader because of the strength he developed from his circumstances. Even Christ had to be tried in order to become perfect. (Heb. 5:8-9) The Bible says, I will be complete through the testing of my faith. (James 1:2-4) It also says, " Our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us." (Rom. 8:18) This was definitely true of Joseph. He suffered tremendously, but how much more and far greater was his reward?! We ended last night with this thought, "In Joseph's limited freedom (slavery/jail), the one freedom that could not be taken from him was the right to chose his response to all that had happened to him." Again God reminded me that the choice of how to respond to life's circumstances is mine.



Late last night, I checked my email, and my grandmother had sent me the following prayer by Rev. TD Jakes. I hope you will all take time to pray this prayer with me daily. Christ says, "I tell you the truth, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Again, I tell you that if two of you on earth agree about anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them." (Matt 18:18-19)



Father,


Bless me, even while I’m reading this prayer, and bless the others, that pray this prayer with me, in a special way. Open supernatural doors in our lives today. Save and set free! Give us a double portion of your Spirit as we take back everything that the Devil has stolen: emotional health, physical health, finances, relationships, children, jobs, homes, and marriages.


I cancel every plot, plan and scheme the enemy has devised against us in the matchless name of Jesus. I declare that, “No weapon formed against us will prosper.” (Isaiah 54:17) I speak life into every dead situation. And, I thank you that nothing is over until You say it’s over! I speak prophetically into our lives and to our situations. Our households are blessed; our health is blessed; our marriages are blessed; our finances are blessed; our businesses are blessed; our jobs are blessed; our children are blessed; our grandchildren are blessed; our parents are blessed; our siblings are blessed; our ministries are blessed; our decisions are blessed. Husbands are on the way; wives are on the way; mortgages are paid and debts cancelled. Our "heart’s desires" (Psalm 37:4) are on the way, according to your perfect will and plan for our lives.


In Jesus’ name,
Amen