Breaking Bread For 1.31.22

Scripture

If the ax is dull and its edge unsharpened, more strength is needed, but skill will bring success.

Ecclesiastes 10:10

Reflection

Some of us are really struggling, exerting a lot of energy and it’s taking its toll on us. Well, that’s because we’re approaching life and the tasks at hand with a dull ax. We’re swinging and swinging yet contact is having minimum impact, because our ax is not sharp enough to break through. So we have to work hard, exert twice or even three times the energy, and make it clear that we rarely use this ax.

You can’t get better in any aspect of your life without practice; without trying repeatedly; without trying your best and working to improve upon that. The more you engage and practice, the more proficient you become, and the less energy you will exert each attempt. Once you become skilled at it you will find that your efforts will bring you success in that area, and others. Sharpen your “ax” and over time you will make your work seem effortless. It’s the commitment to action that will result in the greatest reward.

Imagine how much stronger and more intimate your relationship with God would be if you engaged with Him regularly and intently?

Prayer

Father, I thank You for Your love and all of the ways You show it. I want to strengthen our relationship. I know that you’re waiting on me to engage, as every day You’re speaking to me and guiding me, wanting greater intimacy with me. I ask for Your help in this area. I want that unbreakable bond and I want to do my part to build this with You.

I also know that Your plans for me require me to work in other ways.

I pray for continued learning and growth. That I may use Your gifts to build and increase my skills, and become the person that You intend for me to be. As long as You provide me the day and the means to perform, I will put in the work. I pray these things in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Love,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.28.22

Scripture

His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 

For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins.

2 Peter 1:3-9

Reflection

Enhance the positive and loving characteristics and attributes that you possess and work to build those elements that you don’t fully express, doing so as God intends for you. The only way you will be effective and productive in any aspect of your life is to follow the lessons of Jesus and the Word of God, our Father. As long as you fail to have faith and embrace God’s goodness, you will remain nearsighted or completely blind to God’s reality for you and your life.

Think about all that you are missing out on because of your lack of action and commitment in your relationship with God. Ponder that and then do something about it.

Prayer

Father, with You all of my needs are met, all of my wishes and dreams are fulfilled, all of my goals are accomplished, and all of my fears are diffused. You never break a promise to me and You never lead me astray. Thank You Father.

Today and each day, I want to reinforce the things that I have read in the Bible, and the positive affirmations I have recited. I want to add to my faith in You and our relationship, and my belief in myself and my role in Your plan. I want to gain and maintain self-control, perseverance, and a sense of doing, saying, and being intentional in all that I do no matter where I am.

Father, let Your love that fills me constantly grow and reflect You, and let this love guide my feet, heart, mind, mouth, and my actions. I want to be effective, efficient, and productive in my personal life, in my career, as a student of Christ, and in helping to build Your Kingdom. Let me see clearly— near, far, and in between Father. In Your Name I praise and pray. Amen.

Love you all!

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved.
All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.27.22

Scripture

The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools.

Ecclesiastes 9:17

Reflection

Wisdom does not always have to be spoken aloud; expressed with words. Remember…The loudest in the room could be hard of hearing or the biggest fool, or both, and not necessarily the one to pay attention to!

Prayer

Father, I ask for wisdom through Your guidance and Word; the knowledge of experience; the teachings of mentors and advisors; and from learning from others mistakes, failures and achievements. 

I ask that You lovingly remind me of the value of silence— when words are not necessary, and that I control my tone to the level that You deem appropriate. In Your Name I humbly pray. Amen. 

Love,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved.
All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.26.22

Scripture

Through love and faithfulness sin is atoned for; through the fear of the LORD evil is avoided.

Proverbs 16:6

Reflection

How much clearer can this be? As long as we are loving, and faithful to God, His plan, His Kingdom, and His son— our sins are atoned. 

By respecting Him and fearing that we will disappoint Him we can avoid evil and evil doing. Amazing how plainly it is explained to us. Isn’t it? Yet why do many of us still struggle?

Prayer

Father I love, respect, and honor You. Through my love and faithfulness I pray my sins will be atoned, and I will be completely at-one with You. Thank You for Your grace. Amen. 

Lovingly,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved.
All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.25.22

Scripture

In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.

Proverbs 16:9

Reflection

We can plan our lives as much as we want, but if we don’t realize and defer to the fact that only God establishes the steps in that plan, we will never truly get anywhere in life.

Prayer

Father, You always find a way to show me when my mind and Your path are not aligned. Let me work with You to plan my course. I want to do better to understand, appreciate, respect, and wait patiently for You to establish my steps. I thank You for all that You have done, all that You do, and all that You will still do in my life. Amen.

Love you all,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.24.22

Scripture

The woman whose son was alive was deeply moved out of love for her son and said to the king, “Please, my lord, give her the living baby! Don’t kill him!” But the other said, “Neither I nor you shall have him. Cut him in two!”

1 Kings 3:26

Reflection

The mother loved her son unconditionally. Her true love for him meant that she would never do anything to hurt him. She would rather lose him, let him go, than to see him hurt. The other woman only saw him as a possession; never loving or caring for him genuinely, which meant that she could care less about what happened to him. If she couldn’t have him then no one would, and she was willing to cut the baby in half instead of letting him go. How twisted is that?

This story can be seen played out in our daily lives, in different ways, in the busiest of cities to the most remote lands, with the wealthy and the destitute.

How many times have we read or seen stories of a person who was so outraged about losing their significant other that they killed them so no other person could have them? What about the person who wanted the big promotion and then realized it was going to a colleague, and instead of accepting this and bowing out gracefully, they sabotaged the other person’s career or chance at that position?

A couple decides to break up and instead of letting the estranged wife have the sofa they both loved, the husband throws it away, sells it, or destroys it. Think of the countless times we have seen husbands try everything in their power to leave their estranged wife penniless and destitute, as punishment for not complying with his wishes, and instead seeking to leave him through divorce. How many wives have we seen try to punish their husbands in court in hopes of stripping him of his wealth, so he can feel the pain she feels from his betrayal of her?

How many cars and houses have we seen blazing with fire, because someone refused to let another person have it. Sound crazy? Sure it does, but every day someone in this big world is reacting just like the crazed woman in the Bible passage above. We are blinded by our emotions.

Our selfishness and self-centeredness blinds us and prevents us from seeing God’s truth and His plan for us. The enemy studies us and finds out what we covet and fear, and then he plays around with this knowledge, manipulating and tempting us to fall into one of his pits. That jealousy, envy, rage, extreme fear—they’re all tricks and traps set by the enemy. He can’t make you give in. He can’t force you to do anything. You choose.

We must learn to listen for and respond to God’s voice above all others. We must learn to let go of the “baby” if we truly love it, and patiently wait for God to bring us our own to love and nurture. We must learn to let go of people we claim we love, promotions and jobs we claim to love and need, and worldly possessions we claim we can’t live without—and wait for God to bless us with what is intended for us!

Some things are meant to be with us for a season or a reason, to prepare us for better or different. But we’re so hellbent on holding on like they’re intended to be with us for a lifetime, that we sometimes risk our souls in the process. When we hurt and then choose to hurt others, that is never the way of God, but sadly it’s the way of the enemy.

People are not possessions. You have no right to control, enslave, hold on to, or harass them. Your home, vehicle, jewelry, accessories, boat, and anything else that you can acquire using money, are all temporary possessions. Stop putting so much value in them that they become idols of worship, rather than tools to serve or trinkets of pleasure. Lastly, don’t let the tool of money warp your mind and heart to serve it. When money becomes your god, you have to know that the enemy is pulling your strings, and you’re allowing it to happen. Cut those strings and cling to God.

Prayer

Father, because of You I know true love, have shared true love, and I know what it feels to be loved. Every day I strive to share and express Your love, and I hope that I am making myself more accessible to receive love from others. Your love is truly unconditional, and that is what every male and female should hope to give and receive—unconditional love.

When fear creeps inside my mind and heart, and makes me want to close myself off and put up ‘walls’ I ask that You flush it out Lord; force that fear out with Your love so that I can see and feel that all is well, and that You are there protecting and caring for me. I never want to give fear any power. Doing so would be disrespectful to You. Fear has no power in Your domain. In Your Name I praise and pray. Amen.

Lovingly,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.21.22

Scripture

“Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life.” 

Galatians 6:7-8

Reflection

What we think about and pour all of our energy into, we bring about. What we desire and seek, whether good or bad, will only bring forth good or bad seeds. If you have ulterior motives that are centered on self and pleasing the flesh you will fall into a trap of darkness. Don’t be deceived into believing that you can trick, mislead, or fool God. He is omnipotent, omnipresent, and omniscient. You can’t catch Him slipping, as the saying goes. It doesn’t matter what the father of lies tells you, the enemy knows the truth and is betting that you will be too distracted to see it yourself.

I only want good and pure harvests, so it is my intent to only plant good and pure seeds in healthy soil. That doesn’t mean that’s what I always plant and reap. Sometimes I give into the flesh and what sprouts up is junk. Sometimes I wander and plant in toxic soil and guess what I reap? Toxic crops. I have to take ownership for my farming methods. I have to be accountable for the choices that I made. I can’t expect to grow strawberries if I’m planting tobacco. It doesn’t matter how much I complain, I reaped what I sowed. Does that make sense?

What are you planting and reaping?

Prayer

Father, knowing my heart as You do, You know my intentions, my thoughts, and my desires. Cleanse my heart so that it may be aligned with You, so that I might only sow goodness to please the Spirit and not the flesh. I never want to disappoint You Father. I know that there are times I’ve compromised myself, fallen for the tricks of the enemy, and my heart desires to be rooted in You. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Love,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.20.22

Scripture

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the lord.

Proverbs 16:2

Reflection

If in your walk you have reason to question whether what you are doing is right in the eyes of the Lord ask yourself, “Is this of God? Will I have to repent for this?” If there is doubt or you know for a fact that what you’re doing isn’t of God and that you would have to repent, then you are walking on a dangerous path, and your motives are not pure. So don’t do it…stop right now! 

If that’s not enough motivation, consider asking yourself this question, “If I could see Jesus watching me right now, would I continue doing this?” If you would stop, then stop, because you know that Jesus and God are both watching and listening. They don’t have on noise cancellation headphones and eye masks. They aren’t on a spiritual retreat.

But if you care not to even weigh your decisions, if you casually do and say whatever you want without consideration to whether it is of God, then God will of course weigh things for you. 

Prayer

Father, You know my heart and I pray that my motives are in line with Your expectations and plans for me. If they are not I pray that You swiftly and lovingly re-direct me so that I do not have to learn the painstakingly and extremely long way in which to walk. I’m tired of repeating mistakes, after awhile they are no longer mistakes, they’re just disobedience, and that hurts my heart to admit this. I want to be aligned with You, not struggling with You. Your will not mine. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Lovingly,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved.
All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.19.22

Scripture

“You are not to hate your brother in your heart. Instead, you are to firmly rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You are not to take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am ADONAI.”

Leviticus 19:17-19 TLV

Reflection

We spend so much precious time plotting and planning a revenge attack of some sort on our perceived or actual enemies; we hold grudges for years against people, and we love only those in select groups, like family and friends, but what of the stranger we don’t know or the enemy past or present? Why not spend our time focused on being better people, better ambassadors for Christ, and being motivated on building God’s Kingdom? 

Focus more on being the Light than casting a shadow over someone else. While you’re busy plotting to destroy someone else, the enemy is cracking up laughing, digging your spiritual grave. When we give in to anger we have grabbed ahold of the carrot of temptation. We fell into his trap. Let that nonsense go. When we walk around with a grudge we’re carrying around dead weight, wearing ourselves out and growing more bitter by the day. That’s not God’s doing or His plan. That is the schemes of the father of lies. Don’t compromise your Light for his headlights that will come crashing through your world.

We must work towards loving and respecting others as we love our self. And if we struggle with loving self then consider how you would want a beloved family member or friend treated, and then treat others accordingly. See the Light. Choose the Light. Embrace the Light. Be the Light.

Prayer

Father, in You I seek peace, comfort, and refuge. I look to Your son for guidance and the perfect example of how to love my neighbor as I do self, and how to even love those I would consider my enemy. Touch my heart Lord so that I may see that it is not my will but thine; and it is not my place to seek revenge, nor should I hold a grudge— because that means I’m wasting energy and removing my focus from You. I love You Father. In Your Name I praise and pray. Amen.

Love you all,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.18.22

Scripture

Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands. 

In fact, this is love for God: to keep his commands. And his commands are not burdensome, for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

1 John 5:1-5

Reflection

The enemy would have us believe that God is not with us, that He has abandoned us, that His son is not our shepherd, and that our safest bet would be to not follow God’s commandments but instead follow the enemy into darkness. What do you believe? Who do you follow? I believe in and follow the Father and the son. 

Prayer

Father, I believe in You and I believe that Jesus is Your son, and the only way to You is through him. I carry this knowledge in my heart and mind, and promise to each day work to be a better person, ambassador, and follower of Christ. In Your son Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Love,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved.
All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.17.22

Scripture

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:18

Reflection

Fear is absence of light and love. Fear is loneliness. Fear is not of God. God is perfect love and we are His reflections— hence we are perfected by Him—so why do we entertain and give into fear? Why do we surrender ourselves to something not of God, becoming a slave to it?

Earlier this morning I was emailing a distant family member, whom I met recently thanks to Ancestry.com, and we were discussing the spirit of jealousy and envy, and I shared how both were rooted in a mindset of lack, which means they can’t be of God. God is love and there is no fear in love, for there is no lack in love. That means we should never be envious of others, because if we’re fully embracing our blessings we wouldn’t experience lack, only fullness and absolute satisfaction. We would be too busy living a life of gratitude than looking around to see what other people have that’s different or seemingly better than what we have.

It also means that we should never entertain the thought of losing someone to another person, for if they are meant to have a relationship with us, God will make it so. If not, God will also make that clear. Possessiveness is rooted in fear. Insecurity is fear. God did not make other humans to be our possessions, so let’s be mindful of how our feelings are manipulated by the enemy. Some of us are holding on to people who were long ago supposed to be elsewhere, learning from, teaching, and sharing with someone else. We’re blocking them from their blessings, we’re stagnating their growth, we’re limiting their potential, we’re slowing down their mission work. And guess what? We’re doing the exact same thing to ourselves. If you truly love them then you would let them go to spread their wings, and be all that they were called to be. Maybe you remain connected, maybe not. But love is not rooted in fear.

God has closed some doors in our life that we keep prying and rigging open. That’s fear driving us. Let’s get realigned so that we are made perfect in love.

Prayer

Father, in You I find light, love, truth, joy, kindness, forgiveness, peace, tranquility, life, understanding, grace, and strength. Remove the shackles that my fears have on me Father. Help me to see that fear is false evidence appearing real and that, although it is information to process, it is not of You. With fear is lack and with You there is only abundance. I seek Your light and truth Father. I want to live in Your peace. I want to be free. I humbly pray this in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Love you all,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved.
All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.14.22

Scripture

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

James 3:13

Reflection

The true indication of a good life is not one filled with material wealth and riches, but through the humility that what we have today may be taken tomorrow; that we should never take for granted the things that we possess—whether spiritual, physical, or material.

The wisdom gained from past loss should humble us that we appreciate the smallest things in life as much or more than the big things. Our humility makes us most grateful for breathing in life each day, and for whatever senses we have most use of—from there, the rest of our blessings are countless.

These things, my friends are the indication of a good life. Strive for the humility that comes from wisdom and from past lessons learned. And accept what God brings to you, for those are the greatest gifts we can ever receive.

Let today be Free Yourself Friday….

Prayer

Father, I pray for the rich wisdom that can only come from You. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

Love,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.13.22

Scripture

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

Psalm 56:3

Reflection

In our fears we must look for God’s light and run to it. Let His presence soothe you, clear your mind, cleanse your heart, and restore you. Turn to God for comfort during troubling times no matter how big or small—they may seem unbearable or too difficult to you, but nothing is too big or too small for God to handle. If we turned to God daily, during the good and great times, and not just when we’re desperate for something, we wouldn’t struggle with putting our trust in Him. Our trust would be as apparent as the skin covering our bodies.

Let’s not turn to God just because the substitutes we chose failed to meet our needs so we default to Him. Be committed, loyal, and faithful to Him first and always. All He wants is to have an intimate relationship with you and give you everything His heart desires for you. Embrace this Truth, seek Him out throughout the day!

Prayer

Father, there are times, like right now, when I am fearful, doubtful, and confused. Instead of worrying, feeling hopeless or helpless, or questioning why this is happening to me—I will trust You and know that You will never put me in a situation (or let me stay in one) where I am not protected, and that I can’t handle the intensity.

I have to believe and know that everything happens for a reason and from each circumstance comes a lesson to be learned.

So I will dry my tears, release my tensed shoulders, and breathe—knowing that with, in, and through You there is a solution, and this lesson will be well-learned and short-lived. Thank You Father. Amen.

Lovingly,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread 1.12.22

Scripture

In the thirty-ninth year of his reign Asa was afflicted with a disease in his feet. Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the lord, but only from the physicians. Then in the forty-first year of his reign Asa died and rested with his ancestors.

2 Chronicles 16:12-13

Reflection

Asa was afflicted with a foot disease that he chose to rely on physicians to heal him of, instead of God—the same God he claimed an allegiance, the same God he claimed to love and worship fully; the same God he claimed he trusted and believed in completely—yet when in pain and once fear took over him, he chose to turn to man first and not God.

Would your Creator not have a vested interest in your good health? So why do we rush to the things He created instead of coming to Him? We must learn to turn to God and listen for Him to guide us—not lean unto our own understanding. Trust Him in all things and circumstances. Speak Truth to the lies the enemy tells you to lure you away from seeking God. Don’t doubt what our Father can and will do. Don’t be like Asa.

Prayer

Father, I have faith in You and Your ultimate ability to heal me of all afflictions no matter how big or small. I turn to You for my healing. I pray to You for all of my needs. You are my solution. You are my medicine. You are my healer. You are my mender. You are my restorer. Keep my mind and heart focused on You Lord. Keep me from straying when tempted to turn to man first for healing, and not to You. I will follow Your lead. In Your Name I pray. Amen.

God bless you!

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.11.22

Scripture

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

2 Corinthians 3:17

Reflection

Whatever we go through in life it may not always seem comforting to say that God is with us. When we’re going through drama we’re obsessed with the energy of that drama. His spiritual presence may not register with us as boldly as a tangible presence, like that of another human. When you are being victimized and mistreated—sometimes your fear and desperation to survive or overcome, may outweigh the understanding that our Heavenly Father is with you.

It’s easy to default to the physical sense and seek comfort and saving from a person we can see and touch. But even that person would be sent by God. The Source of our healing, freedom, redemption, is Him. Let’s not confuse the tools and people He uses to be the source. Let’s not substitute the creations over the Creator.

We must dig deep, and in our darkest hour we have to listen for His voice and feel His presence. Through it all, God is with us. I pray for everyone who is in pain, suffering, overwhelmed, and unsure of their fate. I pray that they seek comfort in God’s Spirit. All we have to do is call on Him. He’s right there.

Prayer

Father, I pray for those who seek freedom. Freedom from slavery, violence, oppression, fear, hate, poverty, mistreatment, and lies. Father, I pray for those who cry out but their cries go unanswered. I pray that they hear Your voice and feel Your presence. I pray that they know You are always with them. Your Spirit is our freedom. I pray that we have the faith to believe and embrace Your Spirit, so that we may truly be free. I pray these things in Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Love,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.10.22

Scripture

In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, …

1 Peter 1:6-8

Reflection

The hurdles you must climb, the obstacle courses of life you must maneuver around, are necessary for your growth and to measure your faith in God and His Kingdom. We should and must get to a point where we truly and completely surrender to God, to His will, and to our purpose on this earth. It may come sooner for some of us, later for others, and unfortunately for others it may only come when we take our last breath.

Strive each day to surrender more of yourself, to allow Him to lead you and provide for you—without you feeling as though you are your own master and must do all, and resolve all issues in your life. All solutions are in front of you, it is up to us to open our real eyes, see them, and seize them. But the only way we can begin to see through our spiritual lens is to let go of some of our human tendencies and weaknesses.

Prayer

Father, I pray to You this day for strength, discernment, wisdom, and courage to face my challenges and overcome my fears each day. I understand that the trials are to test my faith while making me stronger and braver. I embrace the trials as I do the rewards. Thank You for caring for me beyond my comprehension. Thank You for loving me, guiding me, and guarding me through the darkest of times, and through the deepest valleys and up the steepest mountains. I love You, Father. Amen.

Love,

Natasha 

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.7.22

Scripture

People lie to one another; they flatter and deceive. May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that boasts! 

Psalm 12:2-3

Reflection

There are careers that are rooted in the art of telling lies. In the process of negotiation some people tend to lean more on deception than transparency. In relationships, some people will lie to gain or maintain leverage against the person they claim to respect and love.

People lie because they are telling themselves the biggest lie, “It’s not really hurting anyone”. People lie to hide truths that would make others shame them. People lie to keep from being ‘real’. People lie because they’re selfish. Because of lies, relationships end, families fall apart, businesses fail, countries enter wars, people are murdered, the innocent are attacked, and the world cries out in pain.

We will not be whole until we start living a wholesome life. We will not be free until we free ourselves from lies, deceit, greed, arrogance, selfishness, and self-centeredness. We will not stop feeling pain until we stop subjecting others to our own pain. We will not feel and receive true love until we give freely of our love to God.

Prayer

Father, fill me with Your truth and wisdom. Free me from the bondage of deceit. I ask for discernment to see through flattery and boasting. Humbly I ask this of You in the Name of Jesus. Amen.

Lovingly,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.6.22

Scripture

“Many a man proclaims his loyalty, but a faithful man who can find?”

Proverbs 20:6 TLV

Reflection

To require loyalty and faithfulness in others requires the same in return. God has and is faithful and loyal to us even though we teeter totter from being faithful and doubtful on a consistent basis. If we aren’t faithful and loyal to Him then how can we be these things to others? And how can we expect these things in return? It’s a good thing for us that we don’t get from God what we give Him, and that He’s not waiting on us to give before He gives to us. If so, we would have a “whole lot” of nothing. Praise Him for giving us what we don’t deserve and can’t earn.

Our human relationships often mirror our relationship with God—in the ways we neglect Him, ration our time with Him, choose substitutes over Him, prioritize other things and people over Him, come to Him only when we need something, and don’t give Him proper and adequate credit for His blessings. Then in our relationships with humans we’re doing the same things and the same things are being done to us, and we wonder why there’s so much chaos and confusion.

We haven’t been nurturing and attentive to our first and most important relationship.

Although He shows us grace and mercy, the world does not. He is energy and all that He created and creates is energy. We take what He pours into us but we don’t glorify Him by paying it forward to others, allowing our cup to be emptied for His refilling. We take, ration, hoard, and expect our cup to always remain full because we’re operating from a state of lack. We’re saying we don’t trust God to keep us full so we turn to our own ways. There’s our lack of faith and loyalty.

Being that it’s all energy, we must realize that what we invest or withdraw impacts those energy channels, circuits, and portals and how they interact with other channels, circuits, and portals.

We can’t ask from man (and expect to receive) what we don’t give to God. Let us give freely of ourselves (in all ways and at all times) to our Heavenly Father so that we might build with Him the healthiest relationship, receiving the blessings of the fullness of love, peace, and joy. Then we can be aligned with loyal and faithful friends and family, to whom we are loyal and faithful.

Prayer

Father, I pray for internal peace, discernment, clarity, and for the strength to endure and outlast life’s challenges and the enemy’s attacks.

I pray that through my increased faithfulness I will find myself surrounded by the faithful. I surrender the handling and alignment of the unfaithful. Whether they remain active in my life or I walk away, I will depend on Your directive. Let all things be Your will not mine. I’m not sure if You will want me to pour more, less, or an even flow into them. I will wait for Your direction when that time comes.

You are my Father, Your son is my shepherd and I loyally will follow as Your sheep. Humbly I submit myself to You. Amen.

Love,

Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.5.22

Scripture

“So Delilah said to Samson, “Tell me please, where does your great strength come from? How could you be bound to subdue you?”

Now it came about when she nagged him daily with her speeches and kept bothering him, his soul was annoyed to death. So he divulged to her all his heart and said to her, “No razor has ever been upon my head, for I have been a Nazirite to God from my mother’s womb. If I am shaved, then my strength will go from me, and I will be weak and be like any other man.”

Then she made him sleep upon her knees, and she called for a man and had the seven locks of his head shaved off. She even began to humiliate him while his strength departed from him.”

Judges‬ ‭16:6, 16-17, 19‬ ‭TLV‬‬

Reflection

Although we know that God, not hair, was Samson’s strength, but let’s save that for another day. Today let’s focus on little miss Delilah , who was all about self. She had aspirations and was only concerned with how to get what she wanted, and she wasn’t concerned with how she would get there. Whether it was Samson or another man, she would climb their backs to get what she wanted. In this case she betrayed the man she claimed to love for…money.

Maybe Delilah had trust issues from seeing men take advantage and use up women, and she swore to never be a victim but always a victor. We see this women and men. She obviously didn’t realize that betraying someone never puts you in the winner’s column. Nope it makes you the big loser and you have to pay for the sin you committed against your victims and your sin committed against God.

Be weary of the person who is consistently looking for your weaknesses, looking for your vulnerability and areas in which you couldn’t survive attack. Be cautious of how much, and what, information you divulge and to whom. Things that God entrusts in you is for you, do not betray that trust by sharing intimate details with others. It was nobody’s business yet Samson made it so.

Delilah challenged his love and loyalty [v.15], which is also a challenge to his character and honor. Our (just like Samson’s) first and most important vow is to God and anyone who puts us in a position to compromise that vow needs to be put in their place. When people say, “If you loved me you would…” pay close attention, for “love does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking…” [1 Corinthians 13:5]. Delilah was enraged that Samson wouldn’t tell her the truth about how to defeat him. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-5, 7 says that “Love is kind…it is not easily angered… it always protects…” Delilah wasn’t demonstrating love but Samson was blinded by love, or maybe lust.

Understand that God believes in helping those who help themselves, but not those who do so at the expense of others. Delilah was placed in Samson’s life to test him. Would he be obedient to God or would he cave under pressure of temptation? Samson had multiple opportunities to resist Delilah, not divulge his gift, and even to remove her from his life. Samson did not seize those opportunities. His ego got in the way.

We all have and will face male and female Delilah’s in our lifetime. God has given you choices. Follow Him and thrive, or give in to temptation and be conquered by it. Listen to His voice and not the voice of Satan who would stop at nothing to get you to destroy your relationship with God. The enemy will have you make a fool of yourself, in your superhero costume trying to rescue the damsel in distress—who by the way is probably Satan’s double agent.

Delilah didn’t realize she had more to gain in her loyalty to Samson than in her alliance with the Philistines. How could she when she was blinded by money and power? She was a puppet of Satan.
Look around, do you see any Delilah’s hanging around, calling, texting, emailing you? Seize your day and declare it as “TRADING DELILAH DAY” as you get the Delilah’s out of your life.

Prayer

Father, protect me from my ego that is easily swayed to react without following Your counsel and guidance. I ask for discernment, insight, courage, and the obedience to follow Your lead. If I somehow succumb to pressures or temptation, protect me Lord and strengthen me once more that I may overcome those who would stand in my way of serving You. My most important and valued relationship is the one I have with You. I know that the enemy is always trying to attack and destroy what we have. I pray to You for wisdom, strength, clarity, patience, tenacity, endurance, and protection. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Lovingly, Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com

Breaking Bread For 1.4.22

Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life.”

Proverbs 13:12

Reflection

How many dreams have you left behind or lost control of and they left you? How many times did you walk away from a dream because of someone else’s influence? How many times have you followed behind someone else instead of having the faith and strength to walk alone?

I know I have numerous times. I can recall the times I had life in the palm of my hand and I could clearly see God’s greatness shaping and forming that dream into my reality, and either out of fear or through negative influences I watched my dreams become distant. I then began to doubt myself, and my hope waned.

Without a sense of hope we are sick, and that sickness spreads virally, infecting anyone within reach. The only way to live a healthy and fulfilled life is to live out your dreams and turn them into your reality. There is no better time or place than now. This is it. Are you ready?
Embrace your present. Make it work for you!

Prayer

Father, You have planted seeds within me and as they are watered and nurtured, dreams of Your plan for me materialize. It is my hope to fulfill these dreams and make them my reality. Free me from the shackles that fear can place upon me. Open my eyes to the paths that You have placed before me, and comfort me to know that even in darkness You are the beacon of Light to direct me. I don’t want my last days here on Earth to be filled with thoughts of what I “woulda, shoulda, and coulda” done—but rather be filled with memories of all that I did to defy the odds, exceed other’s imagination, as I glorified You.

Father, help me to keep those who would slow me down or deter me, out of my way. Help me to remain focused and intent on living my dreams and not the dreams of others. Help me to not be concerned if anyone else will join me or support me. As long as You have me in Your arms then I have faith in all things. Father, help keep me planted so that I don’t stray from Your plan to follow behind someone else. I want more of You Father. I want to see and experience more of this planet and Your creations, so that I am a better ambassador for You. In Your Name I praise and pray. Amen.

Love Always,
Natasha

Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved.
All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com