OUR PRAYERS MATTER (7)

In his sermon yesterday, Pastor Phillip said that there are times when Scriptures you have read many many times will all of a sudden have new revelation that you never saw before. And you’ll wonder how did I read this passage for so long and never see that till now? An example of that happened to me in real time.

My husband’s daughter said she moved into this apartment complex on Loop 12, right past Interstate 45… coming from our house it would be on the left-hand side of the street. I racked my brain trying to see these apartments in my head. I have past that way hundreds of times but I don’t remember seeing any apartment complex sitting where she said they were. I asked her a second time to describe the location, and I still could not see it in my head.

So on my way to church yesterday, I sat straight up in my seat and stretched my neck so that I could see what was actually on the left-hand side of the street when I crossed over Interstate 45. Faith and Begorrah! There they were! The apartment complex was built in 1971 (I googled it). I can’t believe I never saw them. They’ve been sitting right there for 51 years.

This is exactly the point Pastor was making about our Bible reading. There are times when something will suddenly jump off the page from a passage that you’ve read many times but had never seen that particular revelation before. It is in that particular time and season that Holy Spirit raises the consciousness to see and hear what He wants to reveal, and knows we are ready to receive.

I’m reminded of a passage in Hebrews 5 where the author accuses them of being spiritually dull and unable to receive sustenance because they were still living on infant milk, and not solid food. Solid food is for those who have matured spiritually and is able to see something in the word of God that they’ve never seen before. We don’t want to remain in the basics of God’s word. The author said, “Everyone who partakes only of milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, for he is a babe.” We need to be weaned from milk and begin to receive solid food. We want to be in a place where Holy Spirit can reveal truths to us that will help us grow more.

There are times in our walk with the Lord that we are on the vine, but not producing fruit. As I listened to the sermon yesterday, I got to wondering if something in my life could be preventing my branch from bearing fruit. Nourishment from the vine is still intact, just not producing fruitfulness.

There was a period of time in my spiritual walk where disappointments had mounted up and caused my heart to become hardened. For sure, I was on the vine but not abiding in Him (John 15:4). My prayers were sent up with a level of skepticism that God had probably not even heard me. In that season, I did not expect to receive revelation from God and lived in spiritual dullness on a regular basis. But the Potter knows how to restore the piece that was marred in His hands and use that same clay to make another vessel, even more beautiful than the first. (Jer. 18:3)

I heard Pastor Steven Furtick say that he felt the “spirit of unstuckness”. This was in reference to believers that feel stuck, as I did about my mounted-up disappointments. The things that keep hemming us up is about to release and we’re coming unstuck.

Holy Spirit gave me fresh faith in the place of my spiritual dullness. He helped my unbelief and I began to see with my spiritual eyes, instead of my natural eyes. I said to myself, “I have learned how to live abased, and now the Lord is about to teach me how to live aboundingly. I too, feel the spirit of unstuckness. It’s a new season.”

We’re entering a season of answered prayers.

I’m no prophet, I’m just saying what’s in my spirit. Strongholds are being pulled down. Arguments are being cast down. Lies are being exposed. Truth is being revealed. Our confidence in God’s faithfulness is skyrocketing. Passages in the Bible that we’ve read many times are about to take on new meaning. They will jump off the page and things we never saw will be revealed in our hearing. The Lord is about to teach us how to live aboundingly. Receive that.

The bedrock of faith is the assurance that God keeps His promises, no matter what the situation looks like at the present time. God is faithful.

Lamentations 3:22-26 (NLT) The faithful love of the LORD never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is His faithfulness; His mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The LORD is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in Him!” The LORD is good to those who depend on Him, to those who search for Him. So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the LORD.

Click here to go to the Our Prayers Matter Series

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

HAPPY THANKGIVING

On this Thanksgiving Day, I thank the Lord for my Secret Place Writing Studio. He watches over it. He blesses me in it on a regular basis. Lord, I give You thanks for my Secret Place. It is the one place on planet earth that belongs to You and me, where we can be together, just the two of us.

I am thankful for the spiritual gifts You bestowed on me and in me. I hope and pray that one day You will say to me, “Well done good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over these few things.”

I hope and pray that Teacher (Holy Spirit) will be patient with me, and manifest Himself through me to help others (as well as myself) to grow.

On this Thanksgiving Day, I am thankful for my family. Lord, I pray that You will remember my prayers concerning each and every one. Thank You for my husband that I love so much and is dear to my heart.

I am thankful for my friends and I pray for them as well. Lord, for those that follow me on Facebook, I am thankful that You connected us. Let there be something meaningful in this following that each one will experience Your touch, that You might be glorified in the process.

I am thankful for all the ways my Lord shows me Himself. This year has been exceptional in the ways that I have experienced the presence of God and did not know that it was Him till after the encounter was over. Like in the story of the promise of God’s presence to His servant Moses… when the Lord’s glory passed by Moses, the Lord put His hand in front of Moses so he could not see Him and then when He had passed by, He took His hand away so Moses saw His back but not His face. I have experienced this in a number of ways this year. After I had gone through the encounter, I saw that it was God all the time and I didn’t know it till it was over. Thank You Lord for Your presence.

I am thankful for answered prayers, so thankful that my prayers are heard and answered.

Thank You for the many times You protected me, provided for me, cared for me, showed Your love to me, and surprised me in unexpected ways. I have been amazed more times than I can remember. Thank You for being my Daddy. That means more to me than anything.

Happy Thanksgiving Day to You, Daddy (Heavenly Father).

I give thanks always, for all things, to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Eph. 5:20

 

P.S. Let the Cowboys beat those Giants today. 😊

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

OUR PRAYERS MATTER (6)

Hard Questions

Habakkuk was a prophet who boldly confronted God with some difficult questions.

1. LORD, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?
2. How long shall I cry to You “Violence!” and You will not save?
3. Why do You make me see iniquity (for my minor hang ups), but sit idly looking at the mega-wrongs of wicked people?
4. Why do you idly look at traitors and remain silent when the wicked swallows up a man more righteous than he?
5. Is mankind like the fish of the sea that You catch with Your net and then You worship the net because it made You wealthy?
6. Can we expect that You will keep emptying the net and mercilessly killing nations forever?

God answered Habakkuk’s bold questions revealing a new understanding of His love and His power. Habakkuk concludes his book with a prayer of triumph and praise. With questions answered and a new perspective of God’s love and power.

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Others in the Bible has struggled with feeling forsaken by God.

The prophet Jeremiah wrote:

Lamentations 3:8 (NKJV) Even when I cry and shout, He shuts out my prayer.

The psalmist David wrote:

Psalm 13:1 (NKJV) How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?

The blameless and upright Job struggled as well:

Job 30:20 (NKJV) I cry out to You, but You do not answer me.

Even Jesus, from the cross, cried out with a loud voice, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” At some point, we may all wrestle with God about something we don’t quite understand, but we have been given permission to approach the throne of grace and ask God about it.

James 1:5-6 NKJV If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses (because He too was acquainted with grief), and was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

A Greater Purpose

Immediately after the feeding of the 5,000, Jesus told His disciples to get in the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the Sea of Galilee to Bethsaida.

Jesus withdrew to a mountain to pray. In the middle of the night, He saw them straining at keeping control of the boat because they were rowing against a strong windstorm. The disciples had fought this storm for 8 or 9 hours and it was about 3:00 in the morning but they were only about halfway across the sea. By this time, they must have been in a state of complete exhaustion and despondency, bordering on despair. At long last, Jesus went to their assistance, walking on the sea. Jesus caused the wind to cease and got in the boat with them. The disciples came and worshiped Jesus saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” The arm of the Lord had been revealed to them and they worshiped God.

The reason He put them through all of this was because of their hardness of heart. They had not understood about the fish and loaves, but they marveled and was greatly amazed in themselves beyond measure when they saw the miracle of the wind and waves being ceased by Jesus… and also Peter walking on the water. This experience affected them to the point of death and they marveled… but they did not marvel over the fish and loaves.

Mark 6:52 NKJV They had not understood about the loaves, because their heart was hardened.

Jesus did not put them through this 9-hour ordeal for nothing, it had a greater purpose. The bread of adversity and the water of affliction are life lessons that God sends to teach us, and to transform us.

Isaiah 30:20 NKJV And though the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, yet your teachers will not be moved into a corner anymore, but your eyes shall see your teachers.

Ecclesiastes 8:6 Because for every matter there is a time and judgment, although man’s trouble lies heavy on him.

Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.

Jeremiah’s Questions

Jeremiah 14:8-9 NKJV O the Hope of Israel, his Savior in time of trouble, why should You be like a stranger in the land, and like a traveler who turns aside to tarry for a night? Why should You be like a man astonished, like a mighty one who cannot save? Yet You, O LORD, are in our midst, and we are called by Your name; do not leave us!

We accuse God of acting like a stranger and ignoring our prayers, but He is no stranger, and He is not far away while we’re going through. In fact, the psalmist David said to the Lord his God, “Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.” We cannot count that high because it’s infinity.

Conclusion

The problem is not with God and His ways, but with our limited understanding of Him.

Isaiah 55:8-9 NKJV “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the LORD. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.

Trusting God leads us to quiet hope, not to animosity.

God still controls this world despite the apparent triumph of evil. Satan said there was a hedge around Job (a blameless and upright man who feared God and shunned evil), and Satan couldn’t touch Job unless God removed the hedge from around Job, and his household, and all his possessions.

The king of Syria sent horses and chariots and a great army to Dothan to capture the prophet, Elisha. His servant was panicking and sought what they should do. Elisha answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Elisha petitioned “LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. God is still in control and He delivered them from the Syrian army.

Jesus has the keys of the kingdom of heaven. He has the key of David. He opens doors that no one can shut. He shuts doors that no one can open. He has the key to the bottomless pit that He can lock and unlock when He’s good and ready.

The farmer sows seed and waits patiently for harvest until it receives both the early and latter rain. I’ve sown many seeds of prayer and have yet to see the manifestation of a lot of them. But I must trust and believe God has heard all my prayers and inclined His ears to my cries and my petitions.

God has a plan, and He will faithfully carry it out. We can be confident that God loves us and is guarding our relationship with Him. We don’t have to be offended. God has devised a plan. His counsel will stand, and our seeds of prayer will harvest.

Jeremiah 29:11 NIV For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

The effective, fervent prayers of the righteous avails (helps, benefits, and profits) much.

Question: What should our attitude be after we pray, and as we wait for God to answer?

Answer: We should trust God to give us what we need, but maybe not in a way we expect him to. We should remember that God really does love us and is concerned about everything that concerns us. Ask Holy Spirit for ears to hear. Look in God’s word and see where the arm of the Lord helped someone else in a similar situation because faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Keep telling yourself that story on a regular basis until you have reconciled in your heart that God is truly faithful, reliable, trustworthy, dependable, and ever true to His promises. Convince yourself from the study of His word in that area that there is no way He will let you down. Ask God for wisdom concerning it.

In God’s response to the prophet Habakkuk’s difficult questions, He said that the vision will surely come to pass at its appointed time. All things hasten to an end. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come to pass. Your prayers matter to God.

Click here to go to the Our Prayers Matter Series

To God be the glory.
Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

COMING UNSTUCK

I heard a preacher say that he felt the spirit of unstuckness. Now... I'm not a prophet, but even before I heard him say that I had been sensing that something big is about to happen. "God's gonna blow your mind," I keep hearing that. "It's a new season," I keep hearing that too. Whatever has been hemming me and you up, is about to release. We're coming unstuck. Believe for it with fresh faith. It may have been a long time since you started praying for it but believe for it with fresh faith, like when you first wake up in the morning you feel refreshed.

The bedrock of faith is the assurance that God keeps all His promises because of His lovingkindness, tender mercies, and amazing grace. He is not a man that He should lie. He keeps His word. I prayed for God to help my unbelief where some things are concerned. Disappointments had mounted up and caused my faith to become weary.

We're entering a season of answered prayers. Again, I'm not a prophet, but just saying what's in my heart. Strongholds are being pulled down. We defeat lies by believing the truth. What did God say about it? That's the truth!

The other day I said, "I have learned how to live abased, now I'm about to learn how to live aboundingly." I feel the spirit of unstuckness.

Lamentations 3:21-24 (NKJV) This I recall to my mind, therefore I have hope. Through the LORD's mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. "The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I hope in Him!"

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

OUR PRAYERS MATTER (5)

From Amazon App

Sometimes I wished I could track my prayers, like I track an Amazon package.

Did heaven receive my prayer?✔
Is the angel on his way with it?✔
What time is it scheduled to arrive?✔

That would be awesome!! I could open my downloaded heavenly app and check it out… yep, the angel has left heaven and it’s arriving today by 10:00pm.😁

But that is not how the faith domain works. Faith is the substance of things hoped (and prayed) for. Our faith is the evidence of what cannot be seen with our natural eyes (Heb. 11:1). Faith is the app that we open to track our prayers. Faith says, “I believe I receive what I prayed for.” When faith starts to diminish or grow cold, we open up the word of God — which increases our faith, and recharges our battery.

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

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The word says…

Psalm 34:15 (NKJV) The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry.

Psalm 37:4 (NKJV) Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Mark 11:24 (NKJV) Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

John 14:13-14 (NKJV) And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. (It’s in Jesus’ name we pray and He will do it).

John 15:7 (NKJV) If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.

John 15:16 (NKJV) You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He (the Father) may give you.

John 16:23-24 (NKJV) “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Until now you have asked nothing in My name.  Now ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

1 John 3:22 (NKJV) And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.

1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

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Our prayers matter, and prayer still works. But before you let the devil win, go back and pray again.

https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2016/04/prayer-will-fix-it-for-you.html (song)

2Cor. 5:7 For we walk by faith, not by sight

Click here to go to the Our Prayers Matters Series

Psalm 64:10 (NKJV) The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and trust in Him. And all the upright in heart shall glory.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

UNCONQUERABLE SOULS

Unconquerable Souls in the Workplace is a post I originally published six years ago, and happened to come across it AGAIN today. It blessed me a second time, so I thought I would share it AGAIN.

https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2016/04/unconquerable-souls-in-workplace.html

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

THE LORD KNOWS HIS CHILDREN

The Lord knoweth them that are His.

The Scripture above from 2Timothy 2:19 came up today and reminded me of a testimony I previously blogged. I wanted to re-share it from 12/13/20 called, "He Knows My Name". Take a look!

https://richardsonblogger.blogspot.com/2020/12/he-knows-my-name.html

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

GOD'S GOT THIS

Joshua 1:9 NKJV Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.

Psalm 23:4 NKJV Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

God's got this. No need to fear.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

BUILDING SPIRITUAL MUSCLE

Many years ago one of the ministers at church called me up to talk out our differences. I was the Adult Class Sunday School teacher. I felt that he and a couple of other brothers loved giving me a hard time by debating with me over the lesson. We hashed it out and cleared the air. But before we hung up he quoted me a Scripture out of the book of Jeremiah, that has stayed with me all these years.

"If you have run with the footmen, and they have wearied you, then how can you contend with horses? And if in the land of peace, in which you trusted, they wearied you, then how will you do in the floodplain of the Jordan?" Jer. 12:5

If I am wearied by 2 or 3 brothers in a Sunday School class, how could I possibly manage the masses... if I believe God has called me to the masses?

I recently asked the Lord if there was a better way to get from the pit to the palace (Joseph's story in the book of Genesis) without going through a bunch of trials and tribulations. After much deliberation, I received the understanding that the only way to build spiritual muscle is to work them out. 💪💪 He has to build us up before He can send us out.

Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." Matt 16:24

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

LET GOD BE YOUR COUNSEL

Pillar of Fire

Maybe God doesn’t keep you in the dark all the time because He’s cruel; maybe sometimes He keeps you in the dark because He’s teaching you to trust and rely on Him for guidance. He’s allowing the darkness to drive you to His pillar of fire.

Nehemiah 9:12 (NKJV) He led them (the children of Israel) by day with a cloudy pillar, and by night with a pillar of fire, to give them light on the road which they should travel.

Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV) Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

Recently, two dogs moved in next door to us, one to our immediate left and one to our immediate right. Long story short, they LOVE to bark, both of them, very loudly. I prayed and prayed that the Lord would rebuke the devil for putting these dogs here to torment me day in and day out. I even spoke with one of the owners. Nothing! Finally, I heard the voice of the Lord say, “I put the dogs there! I am trying to teach you endurance. Where I’m taking you, you will experience many loud barkers. You need the stamina and endurance to face it.”

The neighbor I spoke with concerning his barking dog... eventually, someone killed it, and the noise eased up a bit. God had mercy on me, but I'm still struggling greatly. At times I just feel tormented because all I want is some peace and quiet and it doesn't come. The Lord is not taking away my thorn in the flesh, though I have begged Him many, many times.

The apostle Paul begged and pleaded with the Lord three times to remove his thorn in the flesh but the Lord responded, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in your weakness.” This was an aha-moment for Paul. He began to see his thorn in the flesh with a new perspective, and stated that he would now take pleasure in insults, hardships, persecution, and trouble, for Christ's sake. "For when I am weak," he said, "then I am strong."

Paul was able to see God's power manifested in his weakest moments. The apostle Paul was taught under Gamaliel, a well respected teacher of the law and member of the Sanhedrin council. He learned many things at his feet but Gamaliel couldn't teach Paul about God's grace. It took a thorn in the flesh to reveal that. Paul would not be tormented any longer by his thorn in the flesh but said, "Most gladly will I rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

Therefore, I pray the Lord will also change my perspective about the German Shepherd next door. When he goes on a barking tangent, let me fall to my knees and pray for the Lord's sufficient grace to strengthen me, and empower me, and cover me. Increase my faith Lord, for utter dependence on You. When the noise is overwhelming, let me fall at Your feet and receive Your peace that surpasses all understanding. Let Your peace guard my heart and my mind through my Savior, Christ Jesus... in His name I pray, Amen.

Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Hebrews 12:11 NKJV Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

BROUGHT TO HIS KNEES

A story is told about a man who worked the late shift and it was way past dark when he got off work. Sometimes he would cut through the cemetery as a shortcut to his home. One night it was very dark and he didn’t know the grave diggers had dug a grave and he fell into it. He shouted and hollered and pulled up dirt, rocks and grass but no one came to his rescue. Finally, he sat down in a corner to wait until morning.

Along came a drunk guy named Buddy, from the pub up the street, and he also stumbled into the same pit. He shouted and hollered and pulled up dirt, rocks and grass but no one came to his rescue. Just as he was about to give up, a hand tapped him gently on the shoulder and said, “Hey buddy, you can’t get out of here.” But he did, because he was suddenly motivated with athleticism that he didn’t know he had.

When Buddy got home and turned up the sidewalk to his front door, the devil jumped out of the bushes and poked him with a pitchfork. It was actually his wife dressed as the devil, in a Halloween costume. She was tired of him coming home drunk every night and thought she would scare him to sobriety. With his heart still racing from the cemetery experience, he jumped three feet off the ground and when he landed, he fell to his knees and cried out, “You’ve got my attention. Save me! Save me, Lord.”

That night, he came to himself and gave his heart to Christ, and God cleaned Buddy up.

Psalm 40:2-3 (NKJV) He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the LORD.

God knows how to bring us to our knees.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

SISTER, YOU MISSED IT

About 15 years ago, I delivered what I thought was a very moving sermon one Sunday morning. After church, one of the ministers came up to me and said, "Sister, you missed it." His statement was intended to let me know that I had failed to preach the truth. I was stunned... and completely baffled. As I preached, I felt the move of God upon me to speak. How did I speak untruths in the process, and not know it? I believe the Holy Spirit would’ve nudged me and gotten me back on track if that were the case.

I went home from church that day, and sat down at my study table and prayed, "Lord, please show me where I missed it." I began the study of the text once again starting at the very first verse, and in the second go-around, the Lord gave me the exact same revelation that He had given me the first time.

I slammed my Bible shut and said, “He’ll get it later.” Neither he nor I, ever brought it up again.

The apostle Paul’s prayer to God for the Ephesian church was that God would give them the ability to see with their spiritual eyes the true riches of God, and that they would be filled with wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

In this age, we may not see everything with perfect clarity. Again, the apostle Paul said, “Now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known” (1 Cor. 13:12). We may not agree on everything concerning the Bible. For some, enlightenment will come later as they receive the faith to believe and receive the truths of God. Even so, we still have the ability to dwell together in unity even while we disagree.

When we build our house on the foundation of the Rock, it will stand. The Holy Spirit is our teacher and revealer. He uncovers truth when we really want to know the truth, and when we’re ready to handle it. He will make it known to us and cause us to see, just as Paul prayed in the first chapter of Ephesians.

There have been times when I asked God hard questions and He said that I was not ready to know the truth about what I asked. Then as years passed, He revealed it to me as I was mature enough to receive it. A newborn baby cannot consume a steak when he is first born but as he grows and develops, in time he will have the capacity to digest a steak.

There is no need to agonize over who is right, and who is wrong. In time, the Holy Spirit will work that out. Just keep growing.

James 1:5-6 (NKJV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

1 John 2:20-21 (NKJV) You have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things. I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

Go in peace.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

OUR PRAYERS MATTER (4)

For some time now, I have been praying for our neighborhood. We have dogs barking non-stop that the owners won’t see about. We have idiot drivers using city streets as a drag strip. They accessorize their vehicles so that when they accelerate you can hear them blocks away. It has become very popular to drive these loud cars. There’s gunfire in the middle of the night which then wakes up the dogs, so then there’s guns and dogs keeping everybody awake. On holidays there’s fireworks before, during, and after the holiday. It’s ridiculous and getting more ridiculous every year.

I have sent up many, many, many prayers. Every time I hear a driver barreling down our street, I pray. Every time the dogs are barking, I pray. All day long, I am sending up prayers that God will disarm principalities over our neighborhood.

The other day I stood in the bathroom listening to the dogs bark at each other and I said, “Lord, I’m not praying anymore about these dogs because it does not seem to be doing any good.” This morning the Lord woke me up at 4:20 and dropped a song from the 1970s in my spirit. It’s called Wake Up Everybody. It goes like this, “The world won’t get no better if we just let it be. The world won’t get no better, we gotta change it, just you and Me.”

To stop praying about it is to just let it be. The Bible says, “The effective and fervent prayers of the righteous avails much.”

Prayers of faith move mountains, parts Red Seas, brings water out of a rock, prevents evil, and opens the door for good.

The prophet Elijah was one man — one person praying — but he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it didn’t rain on the land for 3½ years. Then he prayed again, and the heavens poured down rain and ended the drought.

A couple of years ago, I was praying many prayers about something in the news. Day after day I kept getting angrier and angrier at the situation. Finally, I was laying in bed one night and I heard a thunderstorm in the far distance, getting closer and closer. It finally came and stood over our house. That thunder was the loudest I have ever heard. It roared. It clapped. It blasted. I said calmly to myself, “Well, I don’t have to be angry about this anymore, because now, God is mad.” I turned over and went to sleep. When the great day of His wrath is come, who will be able to stand? The thunder didn’t make me afraid, it put me to sleep.

Ephesians 6:12-13,18 (NLT) For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

The Lord allowed that thunderstorm to show me the effectiveness of my prayers. The thunder came from out in the distance, straight to me and hovered over me. That’s what happens when we pray, we move God in that same way.

Some years back, I was coming off a lengthy fast and sitting in the living room listening to a song called Break Every Chain by Tasha Cobbs Leonard. I saw a vision of a band of angels marching down our street, coming toward our house. I stood up and started marching with them. This was God’s army sent to answer my prayers.

Never let the enemy have you believe your prayers don’t matter, because they do. Sincere prayers move the heart of God. Let the church say Amen.

May I encourage you to read Daniel’s story of how his prayers moved God? It’s the entire 6^th chapter of Daniel – the story of the Lion’s Den.

Click here to go to the Our Prayers Matter Series

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove

BETTER DAYS

I was listening to CeCe Winans sing Goodness of God. She says, “All my life You have been faithful, and all my life You have been so, so good. With every breath that I am able, oh I will sing of the goodness of God.”

I struggled with this because lately I have been feeling that God is “provoking” me… like the children of Israel provoked Him. The Bible says that they provoked Him to jealousy. They provoked Him to anger, and they provoked Him to wrath. These never-ending trials are provoking me and I struggled to sing along with CeCe as she sang those beautiful lyrics.

I asked the Lord if He could reveal His goodness to me without taking me through yet another trial… perhaps He could just send it to me in a dream, instead of another trial.

THEN…

As I was getting ready for work, a song came on the radio. He sang, “I know there’s gonna be some brighter days, I swear that love will find you in your pain. I feel it in me like the beating of life in my veins, I know there’s gonna be some brighter days.”

Amazingly, it lifted my spirits immediately. LIFE... it happens, but the goodness of God is that He turns our captivity and works it out for our good. After Job's troubles, God blessed the end of his life, and he lived better than ever before.

Be encouraged.

To God be the glory.

Dee Richardson, Voice of the Dove