If you are a new mom, you will wholeheartedly wrap your mind and soul around this post. My youngest is in 7th grade, but my oldest just gave birth to a sweet, precious, bundle of joy, little girl. I’ve been helping out quite a bit, and my joy overflows! What I was quickly reminded of, and we know but forget the details, is the total dependence on the caregiver. There is absolutely nothing little Adelaide can do on her own.  When she cries out and the adult in her life cares for her, she is quickly soothed and comforted.  She goes from this:

to this…

In the book FerVent by Priscilla Shirer, she discusses a battle plan for serious, specific, and strategic prayer.

Passion & Focus.

There is so much to this book. You may read and take a totally different battle plan for your life.  I appreciate you reading my journey.  I will be quick and to the point.

Passion

If I were your enemy, I’d seek to dim your passion, dull your interest in spiritual things, dampen your belief in God’s ability and His personal concern for you, and convince you that the hope you’ve lost is never coming back–and was probably just a lie to begin with. (Shirer, 2015, p.25)

We’ve been talking about “the heart condition”. Listen to this verse:

And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. Ezekiel 36:26

Bottom-line–a heart of stone has a facade of protection.  A heart that is tender and responsive is vulnerable to the world. At least, that is what God wanted me to think about. What makes us develop a stony, stubborn heart? Why do we feel it’s the best for us? Clearly, God wanted more for His people, and He offered the taking away of this “not so good thing” and offered up a gift–He gave them a tender, responsive heart.

Help me Lord to receive the gift with courage and belief.

He answered my prayer in a very personal way–a touch and action from my spouse, Christian friends who encourage me, and, most importantly, through the work of the Holy Spirit in prayer and worship.

I was intentional in my worship, and the songs that came forth answered my prayers. (Gentle Savior by David Phelps took me to my knees, and I wept.)

Focus.

Whew!  Focus is obvious, but we are so inept at focusing as a human being. Just about anything pulls us from our focus.  You know the list.

Here is the meat of the chapter.  The number one strategy of the enemy to help you loose focus is blame.

In order to live in victory, you must call the enemy’s bluff, pull the curtain back, open up your spiritual eyes, and remain continually aware of the one who’s truly behind a lot of the stuff you’re always blaming on your circumstances, your upbringing, your boyfriend, or whoever. Even yourself…(Shirer, p.43)

The enemy uses blame to put you in a viscous cycle of “Whose fault is this and why?–Sick of it–Angry–Apathy”

You can blame or connect through accountability (God is not asking you to be a doormat) and empathy, which is much more productive and healthy. I love the work of Brene’ Brown:

What if the next time you want to blame, you turn all that focus on your passionate relationship with Jesus and refuse to take the rage detour? Pause. Pray. Ask God to guide your heart and mind.

As I was praying about this my soul sista’, Lisa, sent me a song. I listened. WOWIE! Your heart is tamed and wild–it’s okay. We were NEVER meant to be perfect, for if we claim, “I’ve arrived! I know all” we lose our dependence on the one we are passionate about–JESUS.  Just like my granddaughter, we need to be in the forever state of dependence on Him. Cry out–don’t blame. Seek His face like a nursing child at her mother’s breast. When your tummy hurts let it out, and He will care for you.  He will swaddle you up in His love, rock you, and say, “Shhhhh, Shhhh, Shhh” softly–“I have you my child, let it go”.  Throughout your life He will tame your heart and leave just enough wild to make you wonder, risk, and seek.

Sing and dance with me to this song!