Jesus protects you – Page 2 – So Loved By Jesus

The Power of Prayer

“I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son.If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.” (John 14:13-14)

Beloved, I hope you are having a blessed week! For some, it’s “back-to-school” time and things start to get busy with packing lunches, picking out school clothes, homework, and after-school activities. I’m starting a new routine and actually added “read bible and pray” to my calendar. There are only so many hours in a day and spending time with God can sometimes take a back seat. However, it’s so important to spend time with Him! Spending time with the Lord helps us stay focused, calm, and at peace. He lavishes us with an abundant supply of Grace, while our other tasks demand from us.

This post is about the importance of spending time with the Lord in prayer. Prayer – it seems so simple doesn’t it? It almost seems too easy. In our society, we’ve been taught that only big actions that make a splash are effective or worthwhile. We have been taught that we must do more, be more, give more. When a family member or friend is going through a hard time and there is no big gesture we can offer to solve their problems, we say, “Well, I guess there is nothing I can do for them, but pray.” Like, it’s a last resort. Like, really, pray? Is that what it has come to? We can’t do anything else?

But beloved, believe that prayer is effective! Prayer is our most powerful weapon against the enemy. When we pray, it creates a shield that is impenetrable to Satan’s attacks and makes us a magnet for God’s blessings. We can pray for those that are sick and they will be healed. We can pray for those with addictions and they will be delivered. We can pray for those going through a divorce and they will be comforted. We can pray for protection of our loved ones and they will be divinely protected. We can pray for wisdom, confidence, peace, faith, hope, and the Lord will deliver. In Mark 11:22-24 it says, “Jesus answered them, “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if you say to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and thrown into the sea,’ and if you do not doubt in your heart, but believe that what you say will come to pass, it will be done for you. So I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.”

In 1 John 5:14-15, it says, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: 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 what we asked of Him.” The Lord loves you and wants you to have the desires of your heart. He hears our prayers and wants to answer them all, exceedingly and abundantly above what we’ve asked. The best part about prayer is that you can pray anywhere, anytime! You don’t need to be on bended knee, wearing a prayer shawl, in a prayer closet. The Lord wants to hear from you wherever you are!

Just talking to the Lord counts as prayer. I mainly pray while driving in my car. I’m alone, it’s quiet, I’m reminded of the Lord’s goodness through the beautiful landscape. I don’t even have my eyes closed (which I’m sure the other drivers on the road appreciate). I tell Him all of my worries and my concerns. I thank Him for my blessings and thank Him for his love. I tell Him my desires and pray that they become a reality. There have also been times that I don’t even have the words and I’ve simply said, “Lord, I don’t even know what to pray for in this situation. I’m just so overwhelmed, angry, scared, confused….., so Lord, I just pray that your will be done.” In the above scripture, 1 John 5:14-15, it says if we ask anything according to His will, it will be done. We don’t always know how things will turn out, we don’t always see the light at the end of the tunnel, but we do know that we are loved by the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords, we are joint heirs to the Kingdom of Heaven, and our Father’s will is to bless us and give us all perfect things. So, we know that if He works it out according to His will, that situation will turn out better than we could have imagined! It will be in our favor and for our good!

Beloved, I encourage you to pray without ceasing! If you or a loved one is facing a challenge today, pray! If you are stuck in a dead-end job or want a more fulfilling career, pray! If you want perfect protection for your family, pray! If you want to thank God for His blessings, pray! The Lord loves to hear from you. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus and James 5:16 says, “…The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” If you have a prayer request, please reach out. I will pray for you or with you. If you have a testimony, please share. I would love to hear all the wonderful things our Lord is doing in your lives! For in Him, all promises are Yes and Amen!

Jesus loves you,

Alexis

Be Conscious of How Much You’re Loved

“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or lack compassion for the son of her womb? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! Behold, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands.” (Isaiah 49:15)

Happy Saturday, Beloved! I hope you are having a blessed day! Last week was a very busy week (as most of them are) and I was feeling guilty because I didn’t read my bible enough, didn’t listen to many sermons, and didn’t spend enough time with the Lord in prayer. I kept saying, I will get to it, I will get to it, but then I didn’t get to it. I kept pushing Him to the back burner. Then, I was walking one morning and finally said, Lord, I am so sorry I’ve neglected you this week. You must be disappointed. I haven’t shown you much love.

But He said, I want to spend time with you, so that I can lavish my love on you. It’s all so you can be reminded of how much you mean to me, how special you are, and how much I care. I finally realized that the less time I spent with Him each day, the more stressed I became. All my tasks felt overwhelming and each day started and ended with difficulty.

Sometimes, we put spending time with Him on our calendar like it’s one more task that we must do, but it’s actually for our benefit. The more time we spend with Him, the more calm, collected, and at peace we feel. His word reminds us that he is always on our side and even as we go about our daily routines, He is there. Even when we neglect Him, He is there. He sees all of our efforts even when no one else does. He carries us through the valleys and sets us on the mountains. He will never forget us, leave us, or forsake us. It’s not about our love for Him, but about His love for us. Romans 8:37 says, “In all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Nothing, nothing can separate us from the love of God.

Beloved, the Lord wants you to always be conscious of His love. That is the most important thing you can do each day. Meditate on how much Jesus loves you. Talk to Him, let Him know about your day. If you are struggling, worried, frustrated, tell Him. He cares about it all. Psalm 55:22 says, “Turn your burdens over to the LORD, and he will take care of you. He will never let the righteous person stumble.”

The Lord wants to be your strength and to carry all your burdens. That is how much He loves you. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28)

Beloved, if you have any prayer requests, please reach out! I would love to hear from you. Until next time, remember that you are greatly blessed, highly favored and deeply loved!

Jesus loves you,

Alexis

The Lord’s Protection: Psalm 91

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the LORD, “You are my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust. ” (Psalm 91: 1-2)

Beloved, I hope you are having a blessed day! Happy June! For this post, I want to focus on Psalm 91. It speaks about the Lord’s promises for protection and safety. I love to pray this over my children at night and meditate on these verses when I am worried about a difficult situation. Let’s take a look at this chapter, verse by verse.

91:1 – “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” The Lord’s shadow is a cover and provides protection from danger. It hides you from your enemies and provides comfort. When you remain in His shadow, you know that the source is close by. He is walking alongside you. When the Israelites were traveling through the desert, it was extremely hot during the day. The Lord always appeared as a pillar of cloud to shade them from the uncomfortable heat. At night, the desert would become very cold. Then, the Lord would appear as a pillar of fire to keep them warm and comforted. God’s people are always cared for and protected.

91:2 – “I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.” In the ancient world, each city had a stronghold or a fortress. It was packed with food, supplies, and ammunition and was a place the residents could find safety during an attack. They were built to withstand armies and some were inaccurately considered impenetrable. Many fortresses fell and their kingdoms along with it. Only the Lord is our true stronghold and our fortress. One that can never be destroyed or fail to protect us, no matter what attack the devil has planned.

91:3 – “Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence.” I want to highlight the first word, surely. Surely, something that is for sure, for certain. We can absolutely count on the Lord to deliver us from the grasp of anything that is trying to harm us, mentally or physically. He will undoubtedly be there for you, when you call upon him. He never wavers.

91:4 – “He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.” The Lord often uses a mother hen as an example of how he protects us. In Luke 13:34, he says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often I have longed to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” This is the ultimate picture of protection. Chicks are safe from all danger when under their mother’s wings. I’ve even heard stories of barn fires, where healthy chicks were found unharmed, under their mother’s feathers. He wants us to draw near and look to him for help through our difficult times. Also, his truth shall be our shield and buckler. A buckler is a type of shield that is worn on the body, instead of held by hand. This part is saying that his truth can be used as a weapon against our enemies. When Satan comes to you with condemnation, either through self-doubt or the words of others, if you know the truth (that you are loved, forgiven, righteous, and an heir to the kingdom of Heaven) you can use that truth as a weapon against him.

91:5-6 – “Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.” In this fallen world, the devil works overtime to create dangers at every turn. He is always trying to bring destruction your way, but the Lord says, DO NOT BE AFRAID! You don’t have to worry. No matter what the circumstances are, the Lord is protecting you.

91:7 – “A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee.” This is one of my favorite lines. Do not worry about the evils in the world around you. The devil is running rampant in these end times, but take heart! No matter what new disease, danger, or peril he has created, it will not come near you! Even if 10,000 fall right next to you, you are set apart. You are protected and will not be affected.

91:8-10 – “Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.” The Lord tells us we will see the wicked get their punishment. He is on our side and will be sure evil-doers will reap what they sow. He also reminds us that no evil will prevail against us and no plague or curse shall come near our houses. The last plague that God sent to Egypt was the Angel of Death and it killed the first born child in each home. But, he told the Israelites to mark their door posts with the blood of a lamb that had been sacrificed. When the Angel saw the blood, it passed over the house because the price had already been paid. Jesus is our sacrificial lamb. As a believer in Christ, our door posts are forever marked by the blood that continually saves us.

91:11-12 – “For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” The Lord’s angels are watching over us and he sends them out before us to clear a path. In our daily life, we can’t see everything ahead of us. We can’t anticipate all the possible, future dangers or mistakes we will make, but the Lord can and he does. If we are walking towards a stone and don’t see it, he’s given his angels the task of lifting us up, so that they carry us over the stone before we get hurt. The Lord designed us, so of course he knows that we are “only human”. We are not perfect, but we don’t have to be. He is perfect and goes before us to prepare the way and also watches our back as our rear guard. He wants to protect us from dashing our foot against a stone, so how much more will he protect us in times of peril.

91:13 – “Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the serpent shalt thou trample under feet.” The Lord’s people are given the power to conquer their foes, even the most difficult ones. The lion is often referred to in the bible as the most powerful animal. In Proverbs 30:29, it says, “There are three things that are stately in their stride, and four that are impressive in their walk: a lion, mighty among the beasts, and refusing to retreat before anything.” In Judges 14:18, it says, “What is sweeter than honey? And what is stronger than a lion?” The bible also calls the serpent, the most cunning animal. In Genesis 3:1, it says, “Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the wild animals that the LORD God had made.” The bible uses these animals to specifically illustrate that no matter how much bigger, more powerful, more clever or cunning your enemy is, you will march upon them victoriously. They will be defeated.

91:14 -16 – “Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.” The Lord provides us with seven (which is the number of perfection in the bible) powerful promises in these verses. Beloved, the Lord is speaking to you.

I will deliver you.
I will set you on high.
I will answer you.
I will be with you in trouble.
I will honor you.
I will satisfy you with long life.
I will shew you my salvation.

The Lord promises that he will come through in all the ways mentioned in this chapter and more! He is all that you need, even when it seems like the odds are stacked against you. Trust in the Lord. He will never forsake you. Amen!

Jesus loves you,

Alexis