Scripture
A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. The angel of the lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean. You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”
Judges 13:2-5
Reflection
There’s nothing God can’t do for you, through you, and to you. Believe and have faith. Be disciplined as you pray, work, create, and serve.
That barren, childless woman gave birth to a son, Samson, and he did exactly what God’s angel said he would.
Imagine receiving the message she heard. How many of you would be in shock, disbelieve, chalk it up as a twisted thought, or even as a joke of the devil?
How many dreams have chased you for days, months, and years—yet you never pursued them, never prepared yourself to achieve them, never challenged yourself to turn them into goals, so God could guide you to victory?
How many dreams and ideas have you abandoned because they seemed unattainable, impossible, too late to make happen?
Are you listening for God’s voice? Are you paying attention to the angels around you who are trying to guide you?
That faint voice in your head sharing words of encouragement and enlightenment, declarations of a successful future are not your mortal thoughts or imagination, but rather, it’s the work of God— planting and nurturing spiritual seeds, and outlining your road map—all while reminding you who you are and to Whom you belong.
Those negative, defeating, deflating, limiting thoughts are planted and ripened by the enemy. That booger (yep, that’s what I’m calling it today), it works hard to convince you not to be in alignment with God, to not find and see the countless reasons to praise and pray to God. The moment God’s seed touches your spiritual and mental “soil”, the enemy leaps into action. It desperately tries to get you to not take interest in that seed growing and bearing gifts. It delegates tasks to crew members who are assigned to derail your forward progress.
That is why discernment and clarity are key to fully receiving the gifts that God has for you. You have to be able to clearly hear and see the messages being delivered, and have discernment to know which party is sending them to you, so you know when and how to engage.
What I’m learning now is not to ignore the enemy and its gang. Acknowledge their presence and that they are interlopers. The key is to not empower them by entertaining their influential ways. We’re to acknowledge their presence and intent, while also acknowledging that they only have relevance because God makes it possible, and they only have influence if we give in to the temptations and trappings.
It reminds me of a cousin of mine who used to bug me and try to bully me. If I was watching TV she would stand in front of it to block my view. So what would I do? I would look her directly in the eyes, acknowledging her presence and that I knew her feeble attempts, and then I would redirect my eyes to the level of the TV screen and stare at it as though I were still able to see the program. So that was about the level of her waist.
By doing this it enraged her. She kept looking around to see if I could still see the TV, even though she knew she was standing in front of it. The longer she stood there the longer I stared in the direction of the TV, sometimes smiling and laughing in response to the show’s characters. I couldn’t see a thing, but I knew that TV was there. When she turned the TV off, I continued staring in its direction. I knew it was there and I knew I wouldn’t let her annoy me to the point where I would abandon my pursuit of happiness. Eventually my cousin gave up and walked away. I then happily watched my program. I showed the bully that she had no power and dominion over me.
That is what we are to do with the enemy and its gang. Remind them each day that just like us, they are only here because God makes it possible. The enemy does not have equal or greater power than God. But both want your attention and ultimately your soul. You need to know whom you’re dealing with to know how to think, speak, and act.
When God speaks to you, when He uses angels and other people to speak to and connect with you, tune in, stay connected, and tell the enemy and its crew, “I see and hear you, but you aren’t relevant. You won’t block my blessing. Go somewhere else.”
God has amazing things planned for you, whether you’re the age of a child or a centenarian. Don’t place limits on God. He’s not placing any on you. That’s the thinking and actions of the enemy—always trying to keep you from goodness and testifying to God’s glory, mercy, and love. Be obedient like Samson’s mother. Even if you question God or His messengers, do so while you follow through with His directives—like the child who asks their parent, “Why do I have to brush my teeth?” as they stand on the stool or bench brushing their teeth. As their teeth are being cleaned they learn the lesson. It’s not defiance or insubordination to ask God questions. That’s called seeking clarity. Defiance is making the choice to not obey. There’s a big difference.
Prayer
Father, thank You for making a way out of no way; for making the impossible possible, the crooked straight, and bringing Light to darkness. Thank You for never giving up on me, no matter how many times I stray from Your path. Thank You for providing me with answers, even if I’m too distracted to hear, see, and discern them. Thank You for loving me flaws and all, and showing me how to love You, myself, and others. You know that I’m still a work in progress in that area and many others. But You love and support me anyway. Thank You.
I love You Lord and I know that You will always make things right in my life even if all that I see is dread and doom. I know that You will deliver me from bad situations or help me to learn the lessons that I was too distracted to discern sooner. I know that You direct my path even when I stray. Like a child that wanders in the store and park, You see me wander in life—but You never leave my side. Thank You Father.
You have shared some big dreams with me. Some excite me to action, others excite me to a state of analysis paralysis, while others have me in such awe that I don’t know what to do or say. Of course, the enemy is plotting. So I ask that You reinforce me with the tools to circumvent the attempts to redirect me. Just as we teach children about stranger danger we teach them to be aware of the intent of those they know. Please strengthen my discernment and clarity to realize and identify that which I know and don’t know, so that I’m not caught up in a trap that only You can free me from.
Help me to listen, know Your voice from others, know Your messengers from the enemy’s, so that I can act in accordance to Your plan. I want to love You beyond words. Through disciplined obedience I demonstrate my fullest and purest of love. I praise You and I pray only to You. Amen.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2020. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
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