Thank you for joining me today. If you’re new to this blog I hope you will spend time browsing and getting to learn more about the experiences shared here, the mission of this blog, and why I share it. If you’re not a newbie, and you’ve been breaking bread with me for some time, thank you for the continued love and support. This blog is where I share inspirational messages with the world. I'm not here to convict, pass judgment, convert, recruit, or highlight a church or religious leader. I'm simply sharing words of love and peace inspired by the word of the Bible. Negativity, hate speech, and intolerance will not be accepted on this blog from ANYONE! I pray that you’re blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you’re a blessing to others!
Well here we are. The moment has finally arrived. It’s time for me to share my big Breaking Bread announcement. I’m nervous but I’m ready. I will stop teasing you and start showing you how God will be using me. So let’s do this!
Next year I will be publishing a book, my first to ever be released for public reading. Yes, you read that correctly. My first of many being lined up for the world.
I’m finally taking the big leap!
For more than 12 years people have asked me to write books, to tell my story, to share my gifts with the world. I’ve started and stopped numerous times. For over 8 years, I’ve had Breaking Bread readers ask me, “when are you going to write a Breaking Bread book?” Well family, I can say that the time is now!
I started drafting the book in August. The enemy jumped into hyper mode trying to tell me to keep it small, don’t go big and bold. I’ve chosen to listen to God, Who told me to go big, bold, and bring 100 percent in honor of Him. So that’s what I’m doing.
I’m working with a team to outline the marketing and rollout strategy, publisher requirements, and how to thank everyone who has supported me and the Breaking Bread blog since 2009.
I can’t share all of the details now. I can say that I have a title for this particular book. I finalized that this week (after changing it twice). This book is based on my work through the Breaking Bread blog. There will be both an e-book and a soft-bound print version. Let me stop there before I reveal too much. *Smile*
I’m trusting God. I’m walking confidently wherever He guides me. I’m ready for Him to use me at this new level. I will not let anyone or anything get in the way of this project and God’s plan. I’ve put the enemy on notice. It better back down or get smacked down! This is God’s domain!
So please stay tuned for details in the near future. If you have ideas, suggestions, or requests for the new book and future books, please email them to me at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Thanks family. I’m excited. No more hiding in fear, doing just enough. Next year is the year to stand up and be all that God has called us to be. 2017 is the year I declare, “No fear! Just winning!”
Father thank you for this day. Thank You for your loving grace; for the lessons that I have learned and those that I am still trying to learn.
Thank you so much for my family. They are my support system. Please keep them lifted up in your loving arms. Continue to bless them.
Thank you for the friends and acquaintances that you have placed in my life. I hope that I have and I am as much of a blessing to them as they have been to me. Protect them Father.
I pray for these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection
True friends are loyal. They love at all times. That’s what the scripture says.
So, a disloyal and unloving person is not your friend. Stop fooling yourself. That person is just someone you know.
I have a handful of friends. They are the ones I can trust to be there through thick and thin, through distance and time—and they can trust I am there for them. We’re transparent with each other. No games. No envy. No backstabbing. We don’t fake our feelings or intentions. We give without expectations or conditions.
Anyone else I associate with is merely an acquaintance. Still loved, we just have a different type of relationship. I have plenty of acquaintances. They are special people and I’m grateful to have them in my life. I hope they feel the same way about me.
Know your friends. They love and are loyal to you. They have your “back” when you need them, and they also put you in your place when you’re wrong. If you are a friend to them then the same is true of you.
Celebrate and protect your friendships. Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
3. What issues are you fighting to protect from the enemy’s attack?
4. What cares, worries, and fears are you ready to turn over to God?
5. Who would you like to pray for today?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Father thank You for this day. Another day of molding, lessons, and service. Another day with family and friends. Another day to meet and embrace strangers. Another day of blessings given and received. Another day to praise You. Thank You.
Thank You for the added strength to persevere, survive, thrive, and push past the enemy’s attacks.
Father, You know where I’m weak and weakest. Fill those spaces, reinforce those areas, and show me what to do and how to get it done. Protect me from harm caused by others and that which is self-inflicted.
I pray for my family members, friends, associates, and other brothers and sisters in Christ that I do not know. I pray for believers, conditional believers, and non-believers. Touch our hearts Father, that we all may find and embrace the peace within. Focus our eyes so that we can see the illuminated path You masterfully laid for us. Help us fight temptation and the trappings of the world. Help us to hear Your voice distinctly, so that we can tune out the enemy’s noise.
I humbly and faithfully pray for these things and these people in Jesus’ name, knowing that only goodness and greatness can come from You. I love You Father. Amen.
Reflection
Either you trust God or you don’t. There’s no riding the fence. He doesn’t half-commit to us. He doesn’t half-deliver His blessings. He doesn’t sorta love us. He gives us 100% each and every millisecond of every single day.
Trust. Listen for His voice. Look for His work. Blot out the enemy.
Every time you hear and think something negative, just say “Erase. Erase. Erase.” or “That’s a lie”, or any other word or phrase that you need to say to blot out the enemy’s attempt to distract and discourage you. Trust God!
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
3. What issues are you fighting to protect from the enemy’s attack?
4. What cares, worries, and fears are you ready to turn over to God?
5. Who would you like to pray for today?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you; I will hold on to you with My righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 HCSB
Pray
Father thank You for Your loving grace, that made it possible for me to see another day. I pray to You with great humbleness and humility. You know my heart, sins, fears, weaknesses, hopes, dreams, and desires. You know what You have planted in my mind, and You also already know if I will pursue these ideas and succeed, or not.
Protect me Father. The enemy is working hard but I know it has no power over You. Strengthen me so that I can endure its attacks. Help me to not fear the unknown, the dark, or anything created by You. Help me to always focus my eyes on the light. It’s there always.
Please lift me up out of situations that are displeasing to You. Please equip me with the resources so that I can move forward on the path You have set before me. Please help me to see and connnect with the people who You have placed in my life to do good. Please also reinforce my discernment to see the people that the enemy is using to distract and deter me, to diminish my faith in You.
Blot the enemy out of my life Father. Remove this fear and anxiety. Strengthen me and give me the courage to push forward. In Jesus’ name I pray to You. Amen. I love You Father!
Reflection
God loves, heals, protects, restores, and uplifts us. We are His children. Don’t allow the enemy to serve as a wedge between you and God. Don’t allow the enemy to discourage you from calling on Jesus to show you the way to our Heavenly Father. Don’t allow the enemy to convince you that you lost, failed, are worthless, and deserving of pain and misery. Don’t give the enemy a crack to enter into your world, life, home, and family. The enemy has no purpose or power, so let’s stop giving it.
Pick up your Bible, read and study it; write in a notebook the scriptures that hit you hardest as well as those you struggle to understand. Be a student of God’s Word, so that you can use it to recite in times of need.
Surround yourself with prayer warriors who will pray for you, not against you. Move away from those who plant and water seeds of fear. Move away from those who will tell you whatever they think you want to hear, but not what God needs you to hear. Move away from those who only come around with hands out or just to see what you’re doing (or not doing) in life.
Surround yourself with people who uplift you, protect your family, protect your marriage, and protect you from yourself and the temptations of the enemy.
If you look around and you have people encouraging and supporting you to do something that you know will cause harm to yourself and/or someone else, those are the wrong people to hang around. They are puppets of the enemy. Pray that God would remove them from your space. If they serve a place in some other part of your life, pray that God reserves them only to that space, and keeps them away from areas where they can do most harm.
The most important thing that you can do each day is pray. Pray throughout the day. Pray before you make an important decision. Pray before each meeting you enter. Pray before you enter and exit your home, car, church, workplace, doctor’s office, etc.
It doesn’t have to be a lengthy prayer. Remember, Jesus said that our prayers are to be silent and concise, that the loud and long are for those who want to hear themselves or want others to hear them. God hears our thoughts and he knows our needs and desires. Don’t get caught up in trying to say the “sing-songy” poetic prayers. Just talk to God as you would a parent, sibling, or dear friend. He’s always listening, watching, and waiting.
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
3. What issues are you fighting to protect from the enemy’s attack?
4. What cares, worries, and fears are you ready to turn over to God?
5. Who would you like to pray for today?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Father I pray for peace within myself, my family, my home, my community, my place of worship, my workplace, and throughout my country and every part of the world.
I know that the broadness of this prayer requires Your billions of other children to also consistently be praying for that peace. It doesn’t deter or stop me from praying for it however.
I know Your power, Your strength, and Your love. I’ve witnessed Your healings and restorations. I’ve seen with my own eyes, how You have said “yes” when doctors and naysayers said “no”, and Your “yes” brought astonishment.
Father I pray that every willing and even unwilling heart, finds that internal peace that they need to survive, to clinch tightly on hope, and increase their faith in You and Your son Jesus.
Father I need the peace within myself and my family. The enemy is working double-time on us, individually and collectively. I and we are not it’s but are Yours.
Protect us Father. Fill us with peace so that we lean into Your light and out of the darkness. Give us the strength to fight the enemy and it’s plot to disrupt, destroy and kill. I pray to You in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection
When we read of “peace” in the Bible, many of us first think of wars and physical unrest. But take it to the spiritual realm, where God is, and you then see “peace” as what takes place within before it spreads outward.
All things done in the physical first start within; our thoughts and emotions pour out into action.
Our thoughts of betrayal turn to anger, which lead to revenge—the enemy’s goal of disruption, destruction, and death.
Our thoughts of admiration turn to love, which leads to unity—God’s plan for us.
You may be physically, psychologically, and/or verbally fighting with a loved one. The enemy is winning. There’s no peace there. There’s no joy, love, calm, or light there. The more we fight, the farther we fall into the dark trap set by the enemy.
The only way out of the enemy’s trap is God. Grab your Bible and prayer book and start praying for peace and a way out of the darkness. Turn to prayer partner and a pastor (or other religious leader) that isn’t blinded by your foolishness (that which led you into the trap) and have them pray over you, for you, and with you, so that God can see and know your changing heart—to bring peace to you, and a cease and desist notice to the enemy.
There is never a day of rest by the enemy, so we can never rest a day from his attacks. We must stay prayed up.
Your strategy for surviving and winning, can’t be your good looks and charm. That’s probably how the enemy got its hands on you to begin with. You can’t try to simply out think or out wit the enemy. It’s craftier than you could ever imagine.
Your only weapon against the enemy is prayer. Pray. Pray. Pray. Sit down, kneel, lay down, and talk with God. Your prayers don’t need to be poetic, just genuine. God knows all that we go through, and in our free will He gives us options, so until we show Him a heart that seeks His Light, and not the darkness, He allows us to walk and experience the consequences of choosing chaos over peace, darkness over Light, riches over wealth.
Pray for your peace. Pray for your spouse/significant other. Pray for your parents and your children. Pray for your siblings, grandparents, and extended family members. Pray for your in-laws. Then pray for those outside of your family. Who do you associate with more outside of family? Start there and pray for those who come to your mind, and keep praying until you find yourself praying for strangers. You don’t need to know their name and they don’t need to know yours, God does, we are His children–so pray for them.
Imagine how you pray for people whose story you hear about on the news, read about in newspapers and on social media. You don’t know them and there’s a 99.999% chance that they don’t know you, but you stop and say a prayer for them in their time of need. What if you did this consistently, and not just for tragedies you hear or see, but just in the laying of your eyes on another, you stop and pray for them and their peace.
Pray for the rude or lazy employee at the restaurant or store you patronized. Pray for the driver who cut your car off, or rushed to take the parking spot you were waiting for. Pray for the impatient person who is yelling and cursing. Pray for the heckler who aims to start drama. Pray for the frowning person that you pass. Pray for the person who seems to have it all in life, because you know that they are still under attack.
We all need peace, even if we do things that prove we don’t deserve it. Peace is the receptor that connects us to God. We can’t live without that connection.
The calm waters. The faint breeze. Imagine that same presence within you. It’s possible.
Pray!
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
3. What issues are you fighting to protect from the enemy’s attack?
4. What cares, worries, and fears are you ready to turn over to God?
5. Who would you like to pray for today?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Father thank You for another day. A day not given to all. Thank You for Your son and my savior, Jesus Christ. Father thank You for helping me through some rough times and thank You for helping me now as I journey through unfamiliar territory. You know my heart. I pray that You would strengthen me so that I may endure.
I pray that You would help me to see through this dark fog. I don’t need to see the end result, if that’s not Your desire, but can I just see what stands before me with each step that I take?
I will continue to walk no matter what. I will continue to work on following Jesus without hesitation, and obeying You without question. You know that I’m a work in progress, so I’m grateful that You don’t hold my foolishness against me.
I know that Jesus is my Savior, Your gift to me and the world. I ask in his name that my prayers be answered, and as always the timing is Yours. Amen.
Reflection
Jesus was sent to the world to save the people from themselves and from the enemy. Many followed, most did not. Hence, why more than 2,000 years later, we’re still dealing with the same underlying problems as those in Jesus’ time. Correction, we’re still dealing with issues from Moses’ time.
We are hard-headed, opinionated, and oftentimes more selfish than selfless. We may say, “what would Jesus do?” but then do the opposite. What’s the point in considering how Jesus would behave, if we’re going to follow the enemy’s lead?
He was sent to save us. We need rescuing. We need fixing. We need healing. We need restoration. We need to be made whole. Don’t wait until the New Year to begin cleansing yourself. Start today!
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
3. What issues are you fighting to protect from the enemy’s attack?
4. What would you like to be cleansed of so that you can walk respectfully as a believer and follower of Christ?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are under the copyright name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Father, the devil is busy and I can tell, because it is causing so much drama in my life. Father I’ve been caught sleeping on the job. I know the devil never rests, but I treated it as though it takes vacations like me.
Lord give me strength and courage to put on my armor, and stand firm against the enemy’s attacks. It is powerless against You, so it attacks me thinking that I’m too weak and distracted to turn to You. It thinks that I don’t have a strong relationship with You. But I want to make clear to the devil that You are my God, my strength, my Protector, and my Comforter.
The devil doesn’t want this over here Father. I’m going to make sure to do my part, so it knows it has no place, no jurisdiction, no influence, and no power in my life. Guide me Father. I release my cares, worries, fears, and stresses to You. In Jesus’ name I humbly pray to You, with love, Your servant in Christ. Amen.
Reflection
Last night I finally watched the movie, “War Room“. God had been speaking through other people for more than a year, telling me to watch this movie–but I kept putting it off and forgetting, choosing instead to watch entertaining movies based on humor, romance, and violence. I didn’t realize I played right into the enemy’s hands.
The devil didn’t want me to watch that movie, to hear God’s Word delivered in a way that would rock me to my core. It didn’t want me to internalize those words, those examples, those testimonies, and use them to strengthen me. The enemy wanted me to stay partially disconnected and confused about my present and my future, and questioning my past. The enemy wanted me to feel lost and alone as I dealt with professional and personal roadblocks.
But the enemy, although one to never sleep, keeps forgetting about the omnipotent, omniscient, All-in-All God! God never stopped speaking through His children to me.
Two days in a row, my friend and neighbor Belinda mentioned this movie. Last night when she mentioned it to me, I declared I would not just put it on my wish list–I would watch it. So as soon as I got home and settled, I ordered War Room and was bound to my seat with a force so strong that I wouldn’t resist it even if I wanted to. God wanted me to see that movie, to see the ways He heals and makes whole. He wanted me to see His Word in action and hear those words ring in my ear. He wanted me to see that I wasn’t trying as much and as hard as I thought I was in my life.
God used this movie to further plant a seed inside of me that the devil was trying to convince me would never work. God used this movie to remind me that my survival is only possible through submitting to Him. God used this movie to remind me how much He loves me and that I’m never ever alone. He is only a thought or a prayer away.
If my life does not revolve around God then it must be reserved for the devil. If my decisions in life aren’t brought first to God, then that means I must be bringing them before the enemy. If I have time for social media posts, emails, text messages, phone calls, watching tv, sleeping, eating, or sitting on my butt and daydreaming—but I don’t have time to devote to prayer and studying God’s Word, then I’m clearly not His servant, I must be serving the enemy.
God wanted me to watch this movie to reveal in me what I’m supposed to be doing with Breaking Bread, and to silence the devil who convinced me to do less and less. God wants a strong Kingdom, not a conflicted one. We can only serve one master, either God or Satan.
I choose God!
God spoke to and through my friend Belinda so that I would watch the movie “War Room” and see why it is imperative that I step up and serve as a true Prayer Warrior. This battle is not for the passive at heart. You must be willing and able to put on your armor and stand up to the enemy and it’s attacks. For every attack you counter attack through prayer and mindful speech and behavior. Your rebuke of the enemy weakens it’s footing in your life. It forces the enemy out of your family, your home, your workplace, your place of worship, your community, your life, and this world.
Rebuke the enemy’s attack on your job, your career, your health, your marriage, your family, your neighborhood, your church, and every other aspect and place in your life. Render it powerless, knowing that God is the all-powerful, and only God can provide you with your needs.
The enemy will tempt you with money, perceived power, sex, drugs, land and other property, and all sorts of other things. Tune out its voice and tune in to God’s voice.
As my prayer partner, Shasta used to tell me all of the time, “God doesn’t deal in chaos, only peace. When it is of God then a peace comes over you” so when there is no peace then that is Satan working double time to destroy you and all that God has in store for you.
Satan doesn’t care who or what it destroys. It’s envious and jealous of you and your place, and will do whatever it takes to take you down and destroy your connection with God. If you’re ignoring and cursing God, then the enemy has won. Every unloving, selfish, vindictive, spiteful thing that we have said and done has been in the name of Satan, not God.
We must stand as warriors in and for Christ. We must fight for our lives, for our marriages, for our families, for our jobs and careers, and for our communities. We must stop attacking each other, and start standing up against Satan. It wants to see us childless, jobless, divorced, alone, impoverished, spiritually bankrupt, sick, weak, broken, in pain, and blaming God.
Don’t you dare give the enemy a millimeter of space in your life. Close every entry point, triple-seal all spaces and gaps, and stand watch.
We have a choice: Submit to God and rebuke the devil so that we can live eternally in peace, or give in to the devil’s twisted plan and forever be lost and in pain.
I choose to be with God. I choose to turn my cares and worries over to Him. I choose to fight and win on God’s team.
How about you? What choice will you make?
Watch this trailer for the movie War Room, and then go rent or buy it. Just buy it. It’s worth every cent:
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
3. What issues are you fighting to protect from the enemy’s attack?
4. What cares, worries, and fears are you ready to turn over to God?
5. What prayer partners can you turn to for prayer and support?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge and condemn the world [that is, to initiate the final judgment of the world], but that the world might be saved through Him.”
JOHN 3:17 AMP
Pray
Thank You Father for another day of life and experiences. Thank You for Your son, Jesus Christ. He serves as the Wayshower, the route to You, the example of how to live, love, and treat others. Thank You for blessing me Father. Amen.
Reflection
Jesus wasn’t sent to judge and condemn us yet we spend our days judging and condemning each other. How pitiful are we? We prove through our actions how much we definitely need saving through Jesus. Stop attacking and start loving.
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
“It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices with the truth [when right and truth prevail]. Love bears all things [regardless of what comes], believes all things [looking for the best in each one], hopes all things [remaining steadfast during difficult times], endures all things [without weakening].”
1 CORINTHIANS 13:6-7 AMP
Pray
Father thank You for this day and for Your love. Help me to be more loving, more receptive to love, and to share how Your love has changed, nurtured, protected, and strengthened me. I praise You Father. Amen.
Reflection
We casually toss around the words “I love you” and “I love____” but when you look at what love truly is, wouldn’t you have to admit that there are a lot of people and things that you honestly just “like a lot” but don’t actually love? Some people don’t even genuinely love God. Their relationship is based on conditions and how much God answers their prayers.
Read aloud 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 and reflect on the words and meanings. Where in your life and whom in your life can you be more loving toward? How can you love God more? How can you invest more in your own self-love?
Don’t wait until the new year to get started. Take that first step today. Don’t be fearful of the disappointments that may come from loving fully and being short-changed by the ones you love. We shortchange God daily yet He still loves us fully and forever. Follow His lead!
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Father, today was not promised to me, but Your loving grace opened my eyes yet again. Thank You Father. You know what I’m going through, what I’m struggling with, what’s hurting me, what’s causing me to focus my eyes away from You.
Please keep me focused on You. I want to keep Your commands. I see the path You placed before me, not an easy one and I thank You, because the challenge will make me wiser, stronger, and better prepared for what You still have planned for me. I need you. Desperately. Keep me focused. In Jesus’ name I humbly pray. Amen.
Reflection
Life is filled with challenges, temptation, threats, setbacks and absolute failed attempts. The most difficult thing we must do is not cave in and make the decision to not follow God’s commands. But if our eyes and hearts are focused on Him, then we can disregard our impulses to do or say anything displeasing to Him.
Our mouths get us into trouble, so much so that we would think that we would choose silence rather than make a mistake of using words that bring harm to others. But it is in our weakness that we desire to be right, to win at all costs, feel powerful, so we speak and do things that we know are disgraceful. Even when defending ourselves, is the counterpunch necessary? Pray to God for the strength to remain focused on Him.
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Father, You know my weaknesses. You know the areas where I need to improve. You know the things that I do and say that are unloving. You also know my heart. Father touch my heart so that it doesn’t clinch and go cold in anger towards others, even when they are being unloving. If I can’t find it to be loving, then may I be motivated to lovingly walk away to clear my mind and be centered in Your love. Thank You Father.
Reflection
It’s plain and simple what love is and isn’t. We are either be loving or not. We are either in loving relationships or we’re not. We can change our ways, thoughts, actions, environments, and our circumstances. We can change who we associate with. Bottom line—we can change. It’s our choice.
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Touch my heart Lord, that I might hold my tongue if any word that would come out is not a reflection of You and Your love. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Reflection
We have a tendency to praise in one moment and curse moments later. Our human flaw of course. We should remain prayerful that we can overcome our tendency to spew trash out of the same mouth that says “God is good!” We’re all works in progress, being molded. I know that my mouth can sound saintly one moment and like a sailor moments later. My weakness that I’m working on with God. We can do better. We can control ourselves. Let’s try harder. Let’s try!
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Order my steps Father. I’m walking and determined to be obedient. Not my will but Yours. Love, Your humble servant. Amen.
Reflection
We can plan whatever we like, at the end of the day, God determines our steps. That’s His will. We need to stop grabbing the steering wheel thinking we can can control something. He’s in control. Focus your eyes on the path and put one foot in front of the other, and then delight in the rewards for your obedience.
Don’t worry about what other people are doing in their life and don’t stress out about what someone is doing to you. Do right as God’s child, and He’ll handle those who attack or mislead you.
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Happy Wednesday Breaking Bread Family!
So I’ve made some changes to the Breaking Bread site. There’s even a snazzy warm logo. I’ve added some things and got rid of some other things. I’m clearing the way for what God has in store. I’m getting the baskets ready for the fish and loaves of bread that I prayed for. I’m starting now rather than waiting for later.
We must be prepared for God’s provisions when we ask for them. What’s the purpose of asking for a blessing if you aren’t ready for it?
I could’ve waited until January 1st to come with the new look, to declutter things–but then I would be playing catch up. I’m learning to do it when God places it on my heart to do it, not when it’s convenient or comfortable. Just stop and do it. So I did. A new look. A new feel. A new vision. A new page being turned.
Please stop by and check it out. This is a teaser for the big announcement that I have planned in the upcoming days.
Yep, you read that correctly. This isn’t the big announcement. It’s coming and I’m excited.
God has said I’m ready. God has shown me that I’m ready. I won’t let fear stand in my way. I won’t let other people stand in my way. I won’t be discouraged. I’m stepping out knowing that God has my footing because He directs my steps. That’s a Proverbs 16:9 reference that we really should embed within ourselves.
Enjoy the site and enjoy today’s Breaking Bread message that is scheduled to post later today. We have some praying and reflecting that we need to do today!
I just wanted you to know that I have a BIG announcement to share in the upcoming days. God has touched my heart to share publicly, and at the time He sees fit. So I will be obedient, which I’m oftentimes not—but I most definitely will this time [*smile*]
Hey, I’m in training, being molded, and extremely flawed. He knows this. Hopefully you can simply laugh and accept this and me too.
Father bring me peace within so that I can radiate peace outward.
Hold my tongue if the words that will flow out aren’t loving, and a direct reflection of You.
Touch my heart so I might stop, take pause, and consider my words before and after I speak them. Help me to be quick to apologize for my offenses and slow to place blame when I’m offended. Help me to see the other person’s heart, and to show them mine.
Father I want to be treated with love, dignity, and respect. May I speak and treat others accordingly. I give You all of the glory. I love you.
Reflection
What we do and what we say comes directly from our hearts. We can try to convince ourselves this isn’t the case when what we do and say is negative, but then that would make us hypocrites. We are foolish to think that only loving speech and deeds come from the heart, and unloving speech and actions comes from someplace else.
You may be acting like a butt, and your butt may hurt—but trust me, that’s not the source of your negativity.
It stems from your heart and the valves that we switch on and off, like the faucets in our kitchens and bathrooms. We’re turning them hot or cold, or a blend of the two. When it’s only on hot you can burn yourself and others. When it’s only on cold it can cause nerve damage.
Why don’t we work on turning on our human faucets with a blend of the two, so we can pour out the perfect temperature. That perfect temperature is soothing, comforting, and relaxing.
A warm bath or shower feels like a warm hug. That’s how we should want to feel inside and that’s how we should want to leave others feeling. Even in disagreement neither party should walk away feeling beaten down and attacked. We should both feel as though our dignity is intact.
If we treat others the way God wants us to be treated, and not the way we deserve or the way we think we should be treated (because some of us are self-loathing and destructive), we wouldn’t have three-quarters of the issues we’re faced with each day.
I’m not telling you to start faking it. Please don’t. This isn’t one of the recipes for “fake it ’til you make it”. That will get you no where fast. I’m telling you to start slowly turning the faucet handles until you reach the desired temperature. It may take months or even years. But it’s not about how long it takes. It’s the fact that you’re turning the knobs and putting in the effort. That is our journey. That is our demonstration as believers and followers of Christ; as servants of God.
You can’t possibly reach and maintain a state of joy and internal peace with the faucet turned all the way hot or all the way cold. That’s misery both directions. You have to turn those handles so they are equal. A balance.
Consider that.
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
3. What do you want to testify about today? What has God done in your life recently that you want to testify about?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Bring me peace Father. I’m praising You through my storm because I see the rainbow on the other side. I’ve got my umbrella and rain boots. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Reflection
Don’t wallow away in life’s storms. Splash around like you did as a child. Feel the rain. Believe it or not, it is healing. It makes you stronger. If you can make it through the storm you can relish in the wondrous rainbow after. You can see God’s creations through a new lens and in a new light.
Keep your head up and slip on those rain boots, rain coat, and get out there and show the world what you’re made of. Praise God and prove that nobody and nothing can hold you back. God’s in control. God’s got this worked out. God’s already several moves ahead of the several moves you visualized. Let go and let Him show out for you!
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
3. What do you want to testify about today? What has God done in your life recently that you want to testify about?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
1 PETER 5:7 AMP
Pray
Father I’m turning this all over to You. I’ve been trying to handle this on my own, and it’s clear that I don’t have a clue what I’m doing. My hard-headedness keeps me anxious, worried, and concerned–and that’s just foolish Father. So I’m going to start right now, this very moment, to turn my cares over to You. I’m going to pull back on my worrying and press forward with my praying. Strengthen me Father. You know me and You know this isn’t going to be easy for me, but I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. So I’m letting go, getting out of Your way, and letting You do what You do best. I love You Father. Thank You for loving me.
Reflection
Aren’t you tired of this rat race? This hamster wheel you keep spinning on? Jump out. Jump off. Take that pile of nonsense and push it towards God. Take your cares and turn them over to God. Anxiety attacks, heart attacks, high blood pressure, migraines, body aches, sleep deprivation, tension headaches, clinched jaws, and emotional roller coasters—none of those things are natural, and we can relieve ourselves from this misery. Take those anxieties, worries, and concerns, and turn them over to God. I know it’s not easy, we think “I’ve got this”, when we know deep down inside that we don’t have a clue what to do. But we do know where to go–directly to God–so let’s stop being foolish, stubborn, and doubtful. Start moving those piles of stress off of your shoulders and let God take care of you.
If you doubt He can handle the job, then keep doing what you’ve been doing–and keep ending up with the same results. It’s your choice.
Questions of the Day
1. What would you like to add to today’s prayer and/or reflection?
2. What are your thoughts about today’s message?
Feel free to share your answers, prayers, comments, and reflections in the comment section below. You can also send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Please also feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear and see what, and when! It would be awesome if whenever you run across a prayer, message, or scripture that moves you, you would kindly share it with the rest of us. You can post it on this blog or send me an email.
Love always,
Natasha
Copyright 2013-2016. Natasha Foreman Bryant. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha Foreman Bryant, unless otherwise noted. Prior posts from 2009-2013 are copyrighted under the name Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
Breaking Bread With Natasha 