Once you have experienced God’s power your life will change forever. Your relationship with God will grow stronger and better. When God saves us there are opportunities presented for us to witness to others about the goodness of the Lord but it is up to us to say yes.

One of the church members of the church I attend text me one Monday morning early and asked me “will you pray for the congregation during divine worship on Sabbath.” The first thing that came to my mind was “there is no way I can do that!” “I don’t pray in public I’m too shy for that!” As that thought came to my mind the Holy Spirit immediately reminded me of my prayer from the night before. You see the night before I was praying and asking God for direction and guidance for my life.

I know the Holy Spirit is our guide in John 16:13 (AMP) the Bible says, “But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth [full and complete truth]. For He will not speak on His own initiative, but He will speak whatever He hears [from the Father—the message regarding the Son], and He will disclose to you what is to come [in the future].”

So Being obedient to the Holy Spirit I text back “Yes, I will do it”. All that week I was praying about the prayer asking God what does he want me to say and telling Him why I’m not good enough to pray for His people. You see when God is calling you to do something there is always going to be a voice in your mind telling you all the reasons you can’t do it and that doesn’t include the people around you giving you reasons to not do it also. So there is a battle going on in your mind but you must be able to stand on the promises of God and believe that He will be with you.

When the Sabbath came the butterflies were fluttering in my stomach and the anxiety had set in, but when I stepped into the Sanctuary and the worship songs were being song something happened! The anxiety was lifted and I was no longer afraid. All of my insecurities had vanished and when I stepped on the platform to pray the Holy Spirit guided my heart and gave me words to pray that pierced the souls and revealed the hearts.

I couldn’t believe God would use someone like me who felt timid and fearful when asked to pray for His people. I felt blessed that God would use me. I knew then that God had ordered my steps. Sometimes fear still try to creep in and hinder me when God has called me to a certain task but God always brings to my remembrance 2 Timothy 1:7 (NKJV) “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” If we are honest at some point in each of our lives we all have been or is now complacent in our prayer life but God allows things to happen that causes us to fall on our knees and pray and that will draw us closer to him. James tells us in James 1:2-3 (KJV) “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”

So that difficult time you have gone through or is going through right now God may have allowed it so that you may draw closer to Him. The struggles you are having in your marriage maybe God needed to get your attention because you have been so busy you don’t have time for prayer anymore. You have neglected your relationship with God! God wants us to realize no matter how good or bad things are in our life He wants to hear from His children. God wants us to love our family and friends but he doesn’t want us to put them before him. He doesn’t want your family and friends to be your God. He tells us in Exodus 34:14 His name is Jealous and He is a jealous God. He doesn’t want you putting anyone or anything before Him. God wants us to have joy and be healthy but He is also concerned about our spiritual well being. He wants to save us! God doesn’t want us to be unfaithful in our relationship with Him. He wants you and me to seek Him first. 

In Matthew 6:33 (KJV) Jesus encourages us to, “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” All of the trials we experience are crafted to strengthen our relationship with God and our prayer life. We can’t help others to overcome in their marriage, finances, or relationships with family and friends if we have never been overcomers.  

Whenever I’m faced with difficulties and Satan is trying to disturb my peace I remember the words of my Savior in John 16:33 “In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” Jesus tells us this so that we may have peace and be encouraged. Sometimes we are quick to say why me? But we must realize being saved does not exclude us from trials. If everything was always going right in our lives some of us would never pray. If one never faced trials it would be an injury to his or her walk with God because we will never get to see the power of our great God manifested. So I can see clearly why James said: “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”. It is in those troubled times not only is God’s power on display but His reputation is on the line also. God loves showing Himself mighty and strong in our lives.

It is so important to know the scriptures and pray them back to God concerning you because in Isaiah 55:11 (KJV) it says “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” When you decide to follow Jesus and allow Him to order your steps you will have peace that surpasses all understanding. God is our protector and He shields us from the fiery darts of Satan. God is for us and He wants to guide us on the path of righteousness. Can you imagine having a child who never talks to you? A child who never asks you for anything and you just waiting on your child who you know is in need to say something but they never do? That would be heartbreaking, wouldn’t it? But the reality is that’s how we treat God.

God knows we have needs and He loves meeting them but yet we fail to ask Him. Sometimes we ask everybody but God! God is the answer to every problem we face whether big or small. He loves when His children call on Him and immediately He comes to our rescue. His perfect love for you should be enough for you to trust Him. The reason we fail to trust God is that we fail to get to know Him. If you allow Him to He will order your steps. If you are asked to pray on your job or on your church will you be the one who step up and trust that the Holy Spirit will give you the words to pray. Sometimes God calls us out of our comfort zone to show us what we are capable of. God already knows our gifts He just need us to recognize the gifts in us. The only way we are going to see what God can do through us is to say yes to teaching that bible study, yes to praying before the congregation, and yes to God! If we never go through stuff we will never know how far God is willing to go to help us, to free us, and to save us. If no one else goes all the way with you on your journey God will. Not only will he order our steps He will walk with us on the journey. Will you take the first step with God. Like any baby who is just starting to walk you may stumble a few times but just like any good parent God will pick you up take you by the hand and help you until you get it right. You can trust God when He says He has you covered.

Let us pray, precious Lord take my hand and lead me beside the still waters. Lord when the whole world is in what seems to be chaotic stressful times I ask Father that your peace will be present in my life. In the trials that we face may it shine light on the gifts you have given us to be more than conquerors. Help us to learn and grow in our storms so that when we come out we can help somebody as we are on this Christian journey. When we pray Lord and ask for guidance and opportunity presents itself give us the courage Lord to say yes knowing that it is not the person we are saying yes to but it is you Lord. Order our steps Lord! Help us to know if you have allowed sickness, death, divorce, or financial problems to happen in our life there must be something we are to learn from it. Something for us to gain own our journey that will help us and those around us. Help us to realize that not only are your loving eyes on us Lord but the eyes of those who are lost are on us as well and we must be a living witness that we serve a mighty God who heals the sick, comforts the broken heart, binds up the wounds of those who are divorced, and provides for those who are struggling financially. Help us Lord to not allow fear to stop us from praying in room filled with people. Help us Lord to not be ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Help us Father to say yes to your will and be willing to allow you to order our steps. This is my prayer in Jesus name, Amen.