Let that be enough.

Dear Friends,
From talking to some of you I know that you are still praying for the presence and power of God to show up and I encourage that keep doing it. I have also noted that with joy has also come trials in that God's presence tests us, satan can't be happy we are doing this for sure and there are effects from that, but moreover, please do not lose heart and passion for what we are doing. If the many stories Sunday have fallen away since we last met please be in the word and let God comfort and guide you for his purpose and glory.

This morning when I was reading more in 1 Samuel I was reading about Saul and his leadership skills. He wasn't rooted in the Lord and giving God glory first as it points out after several things happened finally Saul made his first alter to the Lord. In all we do we must seek to bring God glory.
If He has given us life more abundant should we not give Him abundant glory?His lack of pursuing the Lord first overflowed into everything else He did. It was filled with destruction and loss.

So for some things that stuck out this morning I'll first look to the following verse :

"There was a hard fight against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man he attached him to himself. "
-1 Samuel 14: 52

How often do we do this? Like Saul we don't build our strength and just attach ourselves to any strong person around that will spiritually feed us so we don't have to spend the time.  If you aren't in the word yourself you will not hear God. Faith comes by hearing of the word of God and thus you MUST pursue your bible. Pursue God in prayer and let Him be your strength. He will guide you and encourage you if you only push to know Him. Don't just attach yourself to those well versed in scripture and with the prayer warriors and never move past that.  YES we are called to bear with one another , YES we are called to sharpen one another but you must be running to God on your own as well for no one on earth can save you. Only God can save you and be everything you need so pursue Him alone.

Another thing that really stuck out to me is shown in this verse:

"I am grieved that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions." Samuel was troubled, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.- 1 Samuel 15:11"

How tragic that we have a God will speak to us, who will answer us when we call, who will guide us, who will give us the words, who will be our strength, who will be our courage, who will be our joy and yet we turn away from Him like Saul did? I think Samuel was so troubled and cried all night because we was sensitive to the spirit and his heart was broken for the things that broke the Lord's heart. Once again, let us be like Samuel and not like Saul. Let us hold fast to the Lords ways and his presence and may our hearts be broken when we turn from Him. May our hearts break for those who aren't for Him in the same way it broke the heart of Moses and Paul.

I've been learning a lot about foundations-- not the foundations of buildings but the foundations of relationships as I build friendships with all the wonderful people I'm meeting here in Orlando. I'm learning how much joy can come from the things that are built on Christ alone. It really spoke to me yesterday at how powerful and wonderful this was and I came to realize that God is the only thing that is strong and true and lasting so OF COURSE the things we build on anything BUT Him will not last. They will fall away because we can not sustain them or create a strength we don't have. Thus, our hope and our strength must be built on Him in all we do. In all relationships, in all situations, in all we do. Our jobs, our friends, our loves, our joys, our sorrows. All must come from God to truly experience His glory and to give Him glory.  It has been a joy to build friendships on Him. I've been able to build my life, my confidence, my hope, my joy, but relationships involve other people and you have to find people who are spirit led for you to build anything together on Him. It is beautiful what comes from doing that. It is such a blessing and I am so thankful that God has put people in my life that are running after Him and focused on Him alone.  If you can find friendships like that-- BUILD THEM because sanctifying relationships are rare and yet they are what we are called to. I'm more than thankful that God has blessed me with them and I can't even explain how much joy it brings. All this to say be in community with people and learn from them but don't stick yourself to them. Run your own race after God.

So as we continue to pray, pray that Gods presence infiltrate all you do. What this has done in my life recently has been incredible. It creates sanctifying relationships that are beautiful. It gives me a joy and a peace and a purpose. life isn't perfect or without pain and sorrow, but it has been more than ever about joy more than happiness. About His will and not mine. I've been pursuing these things for quite a bit but I've been pursuing them harder and as I pray for more of God He gives me more strength to run ahead without looking left or right.

So let our prayers like the cry of the song "Let that be enough" by Switchfoot. It says:

Let me know that you hear me 

Let me know your touch

Let me know that you love me

Let that be enough.

Let us cry out for Him alone so that we can hear Him, feel Him and know His love. Let us pray that he creates in us a strength and certainty of the truth  that that IS ENOUGH. Do not be discouraged as you press on but know that if your are pursuing Him with all you have that is ALL He asks for. THAT brings Him glory and that is what you are called to do. Be steadfast in that and finish this year strong. 

I'm praying for you that your hearts be sealed for Him alone.

Remember Isaiah 41:13 "For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Don't be afraid. I will help you.'"    Beautiful. He will hold your hand and help you. let that be enough. 

God bless,
Anita