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!
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ.
2 Corinthians 11:3 BOOKS
Reflection
Since the beginning of time, since the first man and woman walked in human form, we have strayed from God’s commands; we have allowed ourselves to be lured away by temptation, pride, envy, and arrogance. We have allowed ourselves to believe that we are separate from God and that somehow we can succeed and prosper without Him.
If you notice success absent of God, where do you think this false reality comes from? And do you not think that God still lovingly has to allow you to experience this false reality?
Does this falsehood not come from the same serpent who convinced Eve and Adam to bite the forbidden fruit? Is it not the same serpent who found a way to shame them and disappoint God? This presence comes in many forms and has many conniving ways to convince you that you don’t need God, that you can do what you want and get where you want in life by your merits and hard work alone, and not by God’s will and grace. It convinces you that God’s Mind is not the ultimate and that you instead already possess the capabilities to do the far-reaching and unthinkable without any influence from God.
Question: When do you need God most?
Answer: Every single second of the day.
There is never a time when you don’t need God’s presence in your life. There is never a time, day or night, that you shouldn’t be asking God for guidance even in the simplest of things; asking Him to always show you the way, give you the right thoughts, and show mercy and grace when you expect it the least.
I need to humbly get down on my knees, metaphorically and physically, several times a day and just say, “thank you” in advance for the blessings that I need and will receive. God blesses me and forgives me when I think I need it least and when I have difficulty forgiving myself.
How can that type of love ever be measured? We don’t love ourselves or others as much as God and Jesus love us. Let’s work at learning to truly love ourselves, even our perceived flaws, and then let that love overflow to others— so that someday, one day, our love as a representation of God’s love, will radiate throughout the world and heal our many nations of the darkness within.
Prayer
Father, thank You for another day of lessons and blessings. Forgive me when I don’t begin my day with a conversation with You. Forgive me for allowing myself to be consumed by what’s going on in the world, by other people, other things, by drama and negativity, and by trying to help people help themselves. Everyday should start and end with a conversation with you.
Father, there is so much temptation around me; so many opportunities to do wrong, to do what feels good even when it’s bad, to turn away from Your Light because it’s easier to float by in darkness. I need You Lord. I need Your son Jesus. I need guidance during my moments of confusion, humility when I begin to think of me more than You, and restoration when I have been torn down.
Father, righteousness and success only come from You. I am what I am because You make it so. I can selfishly be consumed and end up lonely, even when I’m not alone, or I can selflessly rely on You for Your Light and never be lonely or alone again.Father, free me from the grip of stagnation, indecision, fear, pride, selfishness, bitterness, and envy. Restore me Father so that I may be aligned with You. In Your Name I pray. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
For what a man thinks, he is.
Proverbs 23:7
Reflection
There’s a saying that “what you think about you bring about.” Our thoughts and speech are powerful. We can either speak and think of a prosperous future or a bleak existence. We can look around us and see nothing but darkness, giving credit to the enemy, and speak that as our reality, or we can see the penetrating light and declare God’s dominion over all. Our words and thoughts are energy that comes from within. What type of energy do you want to put out there?
I’m inspired by the comforting feeling that God always has me, even when I feel astray, lost, or alone. I would rather focus on goodness, positivity, and greatness. I’m learning to rebuke the lies the enemy whispers and shouts at me and counter them with words of Truth. The enemy wants me and you to meditate on lies, take them in, believe them to be true, and reject God’s Truth. The enemy wants us to think less of ourselves, to see ourselves as worthless, rather than see ourselves as God designed and sees us.
I’m learning to focus more on what God says about me than what others say to and about me. I strongly encourage you to do the same. Don’t you dare allow your mind to meditate on lies and don’t you dare speak those lies! Think and speak the Truth that God speaks over you and others.
Prayer
Father I pray for clear, positive, loving thoughts about myself and others. Let me reject the negativity, fear, and darkness, and embrace the Light of Your Truth.Remind me to always speak Your Truth anytime a lie surfaces with a plan of attack. Help me to shut down and destroy that lie. The words I speak will either heal or harm, serve Your purpose or the enemy’s. I want to choose You every time. Help me Father. Help me to discern and then take action through Your guidance. I come to You ready to put on Your armor, to share the fruits of the Spirit, using my words to build and strengthen Your Kingdom.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2012-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
You will know that your tent is secure; you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing.
Job 5:24
Reflection
You can’t lose what’s rightfully yours, for God is your safe place and foundation. He is your guarantor.
Prayer
Father thank You for always protecting me, watching over me, and making sure that my every need is met. I am never lost, never without, never deprived, and never alone because You are always with me. Thank You Father. I love You. Amen.
I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Psalm 128:2
Reflection
We reflected on this Bible verse yesterday as part of my birthday message, the first in 8 years. As I stated in yesterday’s post, I’m another year older, yet I still have big dreams and goals for my life, family, and community. The only person who can get in the way is me, so I must stay prayed up and never let up. The same is true for you. The only person who can get in your way is you. You must stay prayed up and never let up.
If you recall, from my 2011 birthday message that I shared yesterday, I was focused on dreams and goals and expressing the energy expected of me to be all that I was created to be. As I reflected yesterday, what has been missing in my life is God. I haven’t partnered with Him in every aspect of my life. I haven’t been walking with Him. I’ve been doing my own thing and then running to Him to fix the messes I make, heal the wounds I cause, and remove the shackles I place upon myself.
Our labor is tough because of our misalignment. Many people refer to the Adam and Eve story and the punishment God gave Adam was that Adam’s labor would be strenuous. That means that before that moment, when Adam (the Hebrew word for man) used to work in the garden, it wasn’t strenuous; there was great joy and feelings of accomplishment in the work performed. He had everything he needed and didn’t have to want for anything. But he listened to the liar, took in knowledge without context and guidance from God, and then made a complete fool of himself.
One of his punishments was hardened labor. Man would feel the toil of daily work. It’s the price of being self-centered rather than God-centered. Since the fall of man, many people have had a negative relationship with labor. That is why we find so many people trying their best to avoid, minimize, and redefine it. Maybe it’s our misunderstanding and misapplication that is causing us the turmoil. When our work is not for His glory, we find it to be painful. When we’re chasing our goals and not His, we find ourselves lost, dazed, and confused.
God works and so should we. But look at why He works and compare it to why we do; there you will see the disconnect. That is why God gives us dreams and reminds us that our ability to walk in that reality is only possible when we do are part of the labor. He has already done His and is waiting on us. He’s light years ahead of us, working on even newer ideas. And as always, having to course-correct us every time we try to steer the car somewhere different. But if we think we can get to the places and moments we see in our dreams, and have those things without working and making contributions, then we’re sadly mistaken and will always wander lost in the forest of life.
Adam and Chavah (known in English as Eve) listened to the enemy and thought they could take the easy route, bypass things, take the fast pass, jump in the HOV lane, and somehow usurp God’s order and authority — and they learned the hard lesson the hard way. And daily, the enemy and his crew do major work to see if they can convince you to make the same blunder for your life.
Don’t believe those lies!
Try something:
Set aside some time and speak silently or aloud to God. Ask Him to reshare a dream He recently gave you so that you can meditate on it with Him. Ask Him questions about the dream, whatever comes to your mind, where you need clarity, ask. He doesn’t have issues with your questions; He has issues with your belief that He is incapable, too busy, or unwilling to help you. Jesus is quoted as saying that we’re to ask questions. Learning comes from getting answers to questions. Don’t you think Jesus asked God questions? What do you think he was doing when he would separate himself from his followers and go pray? He wasn’t out there making drawings and sculptures with sand, plants, and dirt. He was asking for guidance and clarity. He asked for the best approach to a situation and the best way to say something.
God keeps replaying dreams in your mind, day and night, to show you your future which is His past. He is excited to see you walk in and embrace that reality, and He wants to help you get there sooner than later. God has provided us with the tools and resources to help us achieve the impossible and unimaginable. We have to trust Him. The concepts of dreams, goals, and objectives were given to us by God; He taught us their meaning and purpose.
What goals would you like to pursue to achieve the dreams God has given you?
Talk to God about them. Ask Him to advise you on the goals and objectives, and which resources and tools to use. Then, with His guidance, set a goal with a date and each day work to achieve that goal. It doesn’t have to be a big goal, or it can be. Just make sure it’s reasonable and attainable. Saying you want to travel to Mars next week just won’t “cut the mustard” as the saying goes.
Maybe the goal is:
Lose 20 lbs by February 28, 2023
Start writing a book and have it self-published by October 24, 2023, or by a publishing house by June 3, 2025
Take a management course starting on January 16, 2023
Organize your closets and the cabinets in each room by December 23, 2022
Switch to a lifestyle of daily clean eating and exercising 3x per week beginning November 1, 2022
Beginning February 6, 2023, switch to eating a plant-based diet 3x per week and the other 4 days making fruits and veggies the largest portion on your plate.
These are just some examples. Do you see that they are both challenging and attainable? The challenge puts some intensity under you while realizing it’s feasible motivates you to get the job done.
I said to attach a date to the goal because it further motivates you to press forward and keep your foot on the throttle. It also holds you accountable, especially if you share your goals with other people who want to see you succeed.
A goal without a date attached is a dream. Sometimes we get lazy and passive with our dreams. We don’t pursue them like they are meant for us. Until you make that dream a serious focus, you will regard it with casualness. That’s why so many of us will say, “I guess it wasn’t meant to be” when the truth is, we could have had it had we tried; we could’ve had it had we put in the work and followed God’s lead. God puts ideas out in the atmosphere just like the stars we see in the sky. As I mentioned during my 2020 book release slash birthday party, if you don’t embrace and run with the idea, someone else will. That’s why we have that dumb and confused look on our faces when we see a total stranger prosper from the same idea we had. Family, they saw the star too; the difference is they made something of that opportunity and followed the correct map while you chose to do other things.
Now don’t confuse dreams with visions and prophesy. That’s for another conversation. But let me quickly say that visions and prophecy may have a sense of urgency or concreteness a dream may not. They may be given to you to share with others, to help bring about change, or to prepare for a major shift; they are designed for God to work through you in a unique way.
So back to your homework assignment…
Set a goal with a date and work towards accomplishing it. Once you have, celebrate it, praise God for helping you, and then when you’re called to move on to the next goal, don’t delay—do it! Every day your focus should be on doing something to better yourself, your family, and your community—believing that it will pay off and the dividends can help to better our world.
Make today a super awesome day. It’s your choice to see the dark clouds or the light shining through them. Work like you love it. Work like your purpose is to glorify God and have the best relationship you can with Him because guess what? That’s exactly what you’re supposed to be doing. God bless you all!
Prayer
Father, thank You for the abundance of blessings. Thank You for my life, mind, freedom, and the ability to work. Father, I know You despise laziness, so everyday I actively take part in this life you have given me, doing and being more than the last day. Thank You for the resources that You have provided. I pray to not waste or abuse them. Thank You for Your loving care today and always.
Tell me what You want me to focus on today. Tell me what steps You want me to take to get closer to the dream You have given me. What do You want me to today to be better aligned with You? Who do You want me to speak with today? How do You want me to bless others today? What do You want me to read and research today? I come to You excited and willing. I want to fully embrace this journey, by Your side, giving You all of the glory. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
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
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Reflection
Well, if you paid attention to the title of today’s message, then you know that it’s my birthday. Yay! Happy birthday to me and to everyone else celebrating their debut day!
I sat here for a few minutes scrolling through the 12 years of Breaking Bread posts, and I wondered what I had written each year on my birthday. Do you know what I discovered? I haven’t written a post on my birthday since 2014; before that, I hadn’t written one since 2011. And that’s that. Not even one in 2010. Two birthday posts in 12 years. I hope to change that pattern moving forward.
The day I entered this world, I was screaming and crying, wondering where I was and who these strange beings were staring at me. There have been many days since then when I’ve found myself screaming and crying and wondering who these strange beings are around me. This world sure is chaotic, isn’t it? Thank goodness we have God and Jesus by our side.
I want to share my 2014 and 2011 Breaking Bread messages, as they interestingly enough, complement each other, and reflect my mindset today, years later. Through these messages, I see my growth, growing pains, and struggles, and I celebrate where I am, and all that God has brought me through, over, and around. Maybe in reading and hearing this message something will resonate in you, and you will pay it forward by sharing it with others.
To help with today’s special message flow, I’m going to make some tweaks here and there, add a reflection with my current perspective, and combine all three prayers into one at the end. How does that sound? Does it sound complicated? No worries. With God, I’ve got this. Are you ready for a blast from my distant past? Great! Let’s begin with 2014.
Scripture
Christ has set us free for freedom. Therefore, stand firm and don’t submit to the bondage of slavery again.
—Galatians 5:1 CEB
Reflection
Today is my birthday, and I have a lot to be grateful for, most importantly, my life and the fact that God has gifted it to me one more day. Without Him, there would be no me and I never ever take that for granted.
The past few weeks have been rough for me as I’ve been battling mortal mind and satan, aka the devil, lucifer, the enemy, “it,” etc. I’m not free, and I know it, I feel it, and at times I feel like I’m being consumed by this presence.
I can tell more by the words I use to express myself and my circumstances. If my speech is sprinkled with or drowned in profanity, then I know I’m losing the fight. I know I’m losing the fight if I go days without posting to my Breaking Bread (and it’s not related to a hiatus).
I don’t like losing. So I’m praying for the strength and courage to fight and to do so with skill, precision, tenacity, passion, focus, and patience. This battle is for my soul.
Think about that for a moment. Every single day the enemy plots its attack against us to turn us away from the light, destroy our hope, and convince us to choose the lies over God. We are fighting for our souls. We are fighting for our freedom. What choice will you make today?
Questions of the Day 1. Do you want to be free? 2. Why do you want to be free? 3. In what areas of your life are you currently struggling and finding yourself in bondage? 4. Can you visualize your life as a free person? 5. Can you tell when you’re under attack? 6. What do you do when you feel like you’re under attack? 7. How would you like to respond to and recover from attacks?
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
—Now let’s look at my 2011 birthday post—
Scripture
You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.
Psalm 128:2
Reflection
If you work hard, you will reap the rewards of your labor. If you do nothing, you will get nothing. If you have expectations for growth and prosperity yet do nothing to earn them, you are short-sided and will end up empty-handed.
Today is the day I was born many moons ago, and I am grateful for each breath I take, each step I make, each decision made clear, and to be surrounded by love. I receive what I give— good, bad, and indifferent— so I strive to give goodness so that I may receive it in blessings later. I’m another year older, yet I still have big dreams and goals for my life, future, and community. The only person who can get in the way is me, so I must stay prayed up and never let up.
Set a goal with a date, and each day work to achieve that goal. Once you have, move on to the next goal. Every day, do something to better yourself, your family, and your community—eventually, it will pay off, and the dividends can help to better our world. God bless you all!
Today’s Reflection, Looking Back
Today, I look back on those posts, where I was, and what I struggled with. Yes, I definitely was enslaved by the lies I believed about myself and my circumstances. Yes, I’m still staring at some shackles that I struggle with removing. As long as I believe the lies, the shackles will remain. As long as I believe the lies, I will be like the animal who was shackled for so long that when the shackles were removed, it continued to live as though it still had shackles on its foot. Have you heard that story before? It’s heartbreaking. But guess what? So many of us act the same way. We keep living like we still have shackles on our feet. God keeps telling us daily that the shackles are gone and we are free, but we keep living our lives enslaved.
So I must speak the Truth that God speaks over me, declare who I am and to Whom I belong, and watch myself walk away from those shackles. And you, brothers and sisters, must do the same.
Reflecting on my 2011 birthday post, I still believe that we should set goals to achieve God’s dreams in our hearts and minds. But what I’ve learned over the past few years is that we must turn to God to help us set the goals and that we’re to remain focused and disciplined on His path and ways to those goals. We aren’t to have separate objectives. It’s not a prioritization of what God wants us to do alongside a checklist of things we’re trying to pursue. It’s not about having a spiritual list and a worldly list. It’s not us tiptoeing around and saying to ourselves, “let me try and slip in some fleshly temptations without Him noticing.” Umm NOT!
We’re to make God our Captain, CEO, Confidante, and top Advisor. We’re to sit down with Him and ask how He wants us to pursue the dreams He’s placed within us. If you think about your dreams as actually being in the past, something that has already happened, God is showing you the outcome, then consider asking Him, “So how was this made possible? What steps did I take? Who did You have help me along the way?” And then obediently follow those steps and connect with those people. Don’t you find that to be an interesting take on our dreams? Maybe we’d also stress less because we know that God has already seen us in that reality; we just have to listen and obey to embrace it in the present. The only time we miss out is when we try to grab the roadmap and do things our way, or worse, create our own map and try to do things our way. We’re trying to navigate the scenery that He created. We’re trying to dictate to the Creator. How ignorant is that? But there are millions of us doing exactly this; some of you are in your sixties, seventies, eighties, and nineties, still trying to tell God how it needs to be done, and you’re absolutely miserable.
Wake up!
It’s not too late. Time is irrelevant to God. He’s waiting on you to wake up, get it together, and get on His wavelength and plan.
We’re to ask our Heavenly Father to advise us on who and what we need to get to points A, B, C, through Z. We tend to create our separate lists, and then we come crawling to Him, crying like babies when things aren’t going as planned. Well, that’s because those were our plans and not the plans designed with Him. He wants an intimate relationship with you. He wants to have the top spot in your heart, in your life, in all ways and at all times. Let Him in. Let Him do what only He can do. Partner with Him. Walk with Him. Surrender your tendency to try to control everything and everyone instead of just controlling your mouth and wandering mind and allowing God to control everything else.
It’s taken me over 30 adult years to understand this and get to this point, and I’m grateful for God’s patience, understanding, and guidance. I’m excited about this journey and the dreams He’s guiding me to each day. I don’t want to miss out on anything, so I’m working to free myself to benefit fully. I don’t want to live this life or look back at it and have any regrets.
How about you? Will you make excuses because of your age or circumstances? Or will you trust God and follow His ways? Let’s take that first step today!
Prayer
Father, thank You for this day, a new day of experiences, lessons, and blessings. I don’t want to be shackled to fear, doubt, pride, shame, arrogance or ignorance—mine or someone else’s. I don’t want to get caught in the tangled web of satan. I don’t want to be consumed by limitations. I want to be free, Father. Show me how to do my part each day so that I can break these binds I’ve placed upon myself, and live as You intend.…
Father, thank You for the abundance of blessings. Thank You for my life, my mind, my freedom, and the ability to work. Father, I know You despise laziness, so everyday I actively take part in my life, doing and being more than the last day. Thank You for Your loving care today and always. I come to You and ask for Your guidance. Where would You like me to focus today? Guide me to the people and resources that You desire me to connect with today. Steer me away from the things and people that don’t serve Your purpose. Keep me aligned with the goals and objectives that You want me to meet. I humbly make this request, as Your child, ambassador, and loving partner. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Please feel free to share this post with others. We’re never quite sure who needs to hear or see something or when is the right time for them to receive it. 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 in the comments section on my blog or send me an email at: breakingbreadwithnatasha@gmail.com
Love always, Natasha
Copyright 2011, 2014, 2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.
Romans 12:9
Reflection
God doesn’t do fake, halfway, or some-timey (yep, it’s a kinda a word). God is always sincere, always honest, and never deceptive. God is a straight shooter and not a game player. He is not a hypocrite or liar. He is love, and His love is sincere. It’s not conditional. He still loves us when we screw up. He still loves us when we doubt and question Him. He wants to have a better relationship with us, a more intimate one, where we can share more and receive more.
We should model this.
Always strive to do what’s right, even when it’s easier to do wrong. Always strive to be loving, even when it’s easier to be unkind. Always strive to be honest, even when a little “white lie” seems acceptable. Don’t be a hypocrite. Always walk away from a situation that you know God had nothing to do with creating and maintaining.
How do you know that God isn’t in it? Well, is the situation:
Toxic?
Unloving?
Chaotic?
Draining your “light”?
Seeming like a win for satan?
Built on confusion and lies?
“Hardening” your heart?
The opposite of what God and Jesus spoke of?
Challenging your gut reaction?
See, none of those things are of God. You’re on the wrong path heading the wrong way. You need to reach out to God to be pointed in the right direction.
If you aren’t sure how to talk to God, or what exactly to say, tap into the Holy Spirit. We’re told to pray in the Spirit (Ephesians 6:18) as the Spirit intercedes for us (Romans 8:26).
Speak to God through the help of the Holy Spirit. Simply say, “Holy Spirit, please intercede so I may speak clearly with my Heavenly Father”. Then begin speaking to God, and let things naturally flow and unfold.
Don’t stand in the way of the Holy Spirit. Don’t ration or block what flows from you. I do that a lot, and I know better because it restricts the conversation and blocks perfect understanding and direction. Imagine what you aren’t experiencing, receiving, hearing, and seeing, because you aren’t having regular, unfiltered conversations with God.
We don’t see pitfalls until it’s too late. We don’t see the warning signs until it’s too late. That’s because we aren’t constantly tuned in to God.
If we spent more time chatting with God and Jesus than posting on social media, gossiping with friends, and watching TV, we would have richer and more rewarding lives. We would see the pitfalls before we approached them. We would see solutions sooner. We would learn without painful lessons.
Family, we all have choices—good or bad, pure or evil, right or wrong, ethical or unethical, rewarding or destructive. What choices will you make? What source will influence your decisions, God or satan? If you aren’t listening and obeying God’s voice, then who are you listening to and obeying?
We don’t have to learn lessons the hard way. We choose to!
Think about that.
Prayer
Father touch me, warm me, fill me, and protect me from harm, negligence, and ignorance. Let Your Light be my beacon through darkness, let Your love overrun and destroy all evil.
I pray to always turn to You Father, even when I don’t know where my next step will take me. I pray for discernment and clarity, to always hear Your voice and obey. I hope to always trust that Your love will never lead me astray. I love, value, appreciate, and honor You Father. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.
Psalm 85:10
Reflection
When I think of this verse, I also think of the woman that was honored in Proverbs 31. She was the epitome of love, faithfulness, righteousness, and peace. She walked firmly in these qualities and every person who encountered her saw and felt these attributes. It’s something for each of us to reach toward.
Even if you aren’t a woman, the qualities of a Proverbs 31 woman should be within you and should be something you seek to find in others, especially the person you want to be your spouse. There are 21 verses that describe the type of person who is selfless, hardworking, determined, never complaining or making excuses for failure, never lazy, takes care of house, home, and family, and walks upright. This person is creative, an entrepreneur who makes a way out of no way and sees beyond the trees while others are stuck focusing on the entrance to the forest.
Who is virtuous?
Can you have love without faithfulness or faithfulness without love? Are we hung up on words and not their meanings and sentiments?
“I love you” is tossed around so casually like a pair of shoes, but what does love truly mean to you? What does faithfulness truly mean to you? What do loyalty, virtue, and grace truly mean to you? People fall in and out of love like a yo-yo diet. One day they love you; the next day they’re cheating on you, the next day they’re bad-mouthing you, and then the next day they say, “let’s try and make this work,” and I ask, who said this is love?
Love protects. Love does no harm.
To protect someone means to make sure no harm comes to them, by you or others—but how can you protect someone when you’re busy watching your own back? How can you protect someone when you are more concerned with covering your tracks? How can you love and protect someone when you are only concerned with yourself and what you’re getting out of a situation?
We can quote phrases, scripture, passages, and verses about amazing and awesome people from the Bible and other sources, but if we aren’t living by example and emulating these great leaders, then what’s the purpose of talking about them? Your name and story will never be a part of the great Book, but your life and how you live it may be the only Bible and representation of Christ that some may see. Are we being the best examples of Christians, God’s children, and ambassadors of Christ that we can be?
Every day let’s strive to do our part to be better and do better. I strive to be that virtuous woman every single day. I know she’s me because God made me that way. I must rebuke the lies, speak the Truth over me, and daily transform my heart and mind to be aligned with God’s design.
It’s never too late!
Prayer
Father, I pray for peace within, and for clarity and vision. I pray that the love I have and want is met with and joined in an everlasting embrace with faithfulness. I pray to always know, remember, express, and stand firmly in who I am as Your child. Let my words and actions be clear, and intentional, and never cause harm.
Remind me always to turn to Jesus’s example of how to walk with You; remind me that with You I have the courage to go to the giants and enter battles like Joshua, Caleb, and David. Help me to be loyal like Ruth to Naomi and Joseph to Mary. Help me to be as nurturing as the women who cared for and protected baby Moses; and as humble as Abigail, Moses, and Joseph the son of Jacob. Help me to live my life like the Proverbs 31 woman, always seeing the importance of being virtuous. In Your Name, I humbly pray. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
But the end of the charge is love out of a pure heart and a good conscience and faith unfeigned:
1 Timothy 1:5
Reflection
We’re to love without hesitation or doubt. We’re to love fully, not ration it out like payments. God doesn’t ration out His love to us, so why do we think it’s okay to ration it to others? Why do we think it’s okay to ration it to Him? Why do we convince ourselves that our conditional faith in Him is acceptable?
A good conscience is only achievable when we aren’t participating in questionable activities. Your conscience is always clear when you focus on speaking, thinking, and doing good.
Let’s lift each other up. Let’s share our hearts with others. Living a dignified life and sharing dignity with others should be your daily walk.
Prayer
Father touch my heart. There are times when I may not think before I speak, but You know my heart. Father I want to love genuinely, deeply, and with an intensity that is impossible to measure. I want to love during good times and bad. I want to love passionately, even when times would dictate otherwise. I want to love my neighbor as I love You. I want to learn how to love myself better so that I can love You and others better.
I want to live without guilt, do right and do good, and not just when it is convenient, but at all times. And let my faith never sway, but stand firmly knowing that You are always here for me— not just in good times, but also in times of pain, loneliness, and frustration. I want to stand firmly beside You, always, not just in good times, but also in times of pain, loneliness, and frustration. In Your son, Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others. Enjoy your day, and be sure to share your heart with someone, you never know how that moment can positively change their day and maybe their outlook on life.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2010-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.
Revelation 1:8 NIV
Reflection
No matter where we are, what we’re doing, and what we’re going through—God is there. He has always been there, here, everywhere—and He always will. No one and nothing can separate us from Him and His love. Turn to Him to have truth revealed, realized, and embraced. Turn to Him for all of your needs.
Prayer
Father, You are the beginning and the end, the first and the last, the present, past, and future. You are my everything. Father, I thank You because when I can’t count on anyone or anything to be what they appear, I can always count on You.
Father, I am praying for Your comforting touch to see me through. The only truth that I need comes directly from You, Lord. There is no other truth, no other light, no other answer, and no other way. Thank You for Your constant presence in my life. Thank You for blessing me every single second of every day. In Your Name I pray and praise. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others. Have a beautiful day!
Natasha
Copyright 2010-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
“Among my people are the wicked who lie in wait like men who snare birds and like those who set traps to catch people. Like cages full of birds, their houses are full of deceit; they have become rich and powerful and have grown fat and sleek. Their evil deeds have no limit; they do not seek justice. They do not promote the case of the fatherless; they do not defend the just cause of the poor….”
Jeremiah 5:26-28 NIV
Reflection
God will level the playing field and make things right, one way or another. It will no longer be the case where we are desensitized to the images of women, men, and children being enslaved, imprisoned, abused, tortured, victimized, and mistreated. We will not see nations with leaders who are billionaires or mega-millionaires while the majority of their citizens merely exist in or are on the verge of poverty.
Through prayer and active engagement in our communities, and around the world, we can do our part to help heal the pain, reveal the truth, and empower the voiceless. We have too many children in orphanages and in foster care, with countless of them never being adopted. They merely age out and face a world that was hijacked and redesigned to not protect and nurture them.
We have to pray and ask God for guidance to see how we can best help and care for our children, and how we can help to destroy these trafficking rings that brutally tear away at people who are the sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers of loved ones. We are all God’s children, so yes, we are our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers. Let us never feel comfortable or content while the majority of our world is in pain.
Prayer
Father, I look around and see examples of Your children who live in pain, anguish, fear, and lack hope. I pray for those children who are overlooked, mistreated, and taken advantage of. I pray that You bless them abundantly so that they might regain hope and become sufficient and empowered in and through You.
I pray that You humble the so-called powerful so that they are reminded of Your everlasting power, strength, and presence. Remind them that they cannot steal from and take advantage of the poor, weak, unstable, exposed, and vulnerable. Touch their hearts Lord and make right the wrong. In Your Name I pray with the utmost confidence. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2012-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
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Scripture
Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.
1 Corinthians 13:6
Reflection
Love does not cheat, lie, manipulate, deceive, harass, scheme, or plot and plan acts of evil.
Swap the word love in both today’s verse and in the sentence above, and replace the word with God, and then read it:
Goddoes not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. God does not cheat, lie, manipulate, deceive, harass, scheme, or plot and plan acts of evil.
Now let’s repeat the lines but this time swap Love and God, and instead say “I”.
I don’t delight in evil but rejoice with the truth. I don’t cheat, lie, manipulate, deceive, harass, scheme, or plot and plan acts of evil.
Is this your truth?
As God’s children we are to reflect Him. In all ways. We are to walk this land as His ambassadors, being the Bible that many never read. Since He is love and we are of Him, we are to be all that love is and not what it isn’t.
And since we are made by Him and are in His image and likeness, it doesn’t matter that we are temporarily housed in tents of flesh, as spiritual beings we are to speak and live as He does. We are to be like our Creator not like the one who deceives and tempts us, in order to destroy us.
Stop giving in to the lies. Stop believing them to be truth. The flesh is weak, so secure yourself in the Spirit. Walk in and live by God’s Truth. Seek the truth, speak the truth, live the truth, and in doing so you will be free from the shackles of evil.
Prayer
Forgive me Father for every wrong I’ve committed, for every lie I’ve told, for every person and situation that I’ve manipulated, for my disobedience and double-mindedness, and for all the times I’ve been unloving. My fear and lack of faith keep me weak, but in Your Truth I find strength, comfort, confidence, and love.
I love and am walking in love because of Your love, because of Jesus’ love, and I thank You Father. Amen.
And with that family, I pray that you are blessed, that you see and embrace your blessings, and that you are a blessing to others.
Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
And he said unto them, It is not for you to know times or seasons, which the Father hath set within His own authority.
Acts 1:7
Reflection
We are an impatient species. The Bible is thousands of years old, and within those pages, we find countless stories of impatient people, always questioning God as to when, how, why, where, who, and what.
We are the exact same way today.
Instead, we should be focused on being ready, appreciative, disciplined, and focused. We wear watches but are late. We have calendars and still miss important dates. We’re so busy doing one hundred things at once that we forget some of the most important things. We want to know when we’ll get that raise or commission at work, get the new car or home, get married, get pregnant, and get the vacation.
We’re so focused on dreams and goals, yet we don’t make the time to spend with God. We want faithful partners so we can be in committed relationships, yet we aren’t faithful and committed to God. We are easily distracted by thoughts and things of the world, yet we want God to be focused on us. How can He trust us when we can’t trust ourselves and others? How can we want from Him what we don’t freely give to Him?
The more we push God for results, the more He makes us wait. The more we interfere, the more things get derailed.
My Impatience
I was a very impatient person. I’m still working on my patience, but years ago, my impatience was embarrassing. I wanted things before I even finished conceptualizing what it was I actually wanted. I couldn’t wait for a person to finish their sentence, because in my mind they were thinking and speaking too slowly. So I either rushed them through or finished it for them.
I bought into the fast-food, microwave-quick, way of life about everything in my life. My one-year, five-year, and ten-year plans weren’t to be messed with. They had to take shape at the designated times, and no later.
Some of My Past Goals
I was determined as a teen to have my first car at the age of 16, and it had to be a Ford Mustang with a red or pink bow on it. I remember in my early 20s I said that I had to be married with children by or before my 30th birthday. I remember being adamant that I graduated from college by or before I was 21. It didn’t matter that I changed my major twice.
So What Happened?
Well…I never got a car at age 16 and still haven’t gotten a Mustang. Matter of fact, I didn’t even get my driver’s license at age 16. My dad said I hadn’t passed his driver’s test yet. I didn’t get married in my 20s. It happened in my late 30s, and I was divorced by age 41. Oh, and I still haven’t had children. I did graduate before I turned age 21; however, almost 10 years later I found out that there were one or two classes missing from my record that had to be completed for my degree to be officially conferred. Go figure.
What I’ve Learned and What I’m Still Learning
Many of the dates and deadlines I created over the past 30 years have been elaborate, ridiculous, and stressfully draining. Some things I accomplished, and a great deal more, I did not. The more I pushed, the more I expected, and the more God showed me that nothing takes place before He makes it happen. I look back on things now, and I am so grateful that certain career and relationship goals I established never came to fruition. I either wasn’t ready, or they simply weren’t a good fit.
God has plans for me, and just because He isn’t showing me His outline, doesn’t mean I’m supposed to make my own decisions in hope of speeding up His plan. It also doesn’t mean that I push past Him and come up with my own plans and deadlines, as though I can overrule and circumvent His plans.
Some people mold faster than others. Some people need longer because we resist Him so much and so often. I know that I’m the latter. What about you?
Over the past few years I have noticed that I am more patient, less focused on time and beating some invisible clock, and more focused on pleasing God. Why? Because I’m being forced to face some harsh realities that have humbled me to my rightful place.
I’m learning that it’s He that I serve, not the other way around. And this place and space were created and made possible by Him, and I’m here because He too made that possible. I’m also learning that it’s not for me to know the times or seasons. I’m only to be ready, appreciative, disciplined, and focused.
What about you? What have you learned? What are you still learning? Are you ready, appreciative, disciplined, and focused?
Prayer
Father, Your son, Jesus, made it clear that we are not to be concerned with what time of day or year that You will show favor upon us.
You are the ultimate authority.
You make the decisions, and determine when something will or won’t take place, and when something will or won’t be done.
Father, being in (or maybe admittedly of) the world, I have become dependent upon clocks, watches, calendars, and seasonal changes. I have developed a certain expectancy, and because of that I haven’t realized that You reign supreme over all time, place, person, thing, and circumstance.
Things will happen when You say so. Father, show me how to free myself from my ignorance, and dependence upon the concept of time, and how I believe it impacts my life. I pray for the patience of Jesus. I pray for his humbleness and meekness. Thank You Father for answering my prayers. Amen.
Have a blessed day family!
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2010-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
In my distress I groan aloud and am reduced to skin and bones.
Psalms 102:5
Reflection
When we think that the pressure has become too great for us to bear, we yell and cry out in pain. We may even go so far as to buy into the lies of shame and blame, believing that we deserve what we’re experiencing, and that somehow God is punishing us through neglect or direct force. At that moment we have forgotten our true identity and forgotten to Whom we belong. We have forgotten Who our Father is and that we are made in and of His Spirit, formed in His spiritual image and likeness.
We are spiritual beings, yet we keep allowing the flesh and these trivial worldly occurrences to beat us down, as though God made us inferior. You have to know that lie is spun by the father of lies himself, masterfully woven to convince you that you are worthless, when he knows the truth—that we are priceless and beloved—and his jealousy and rage is what drives him to attack us and attempt to rip us from our Father. The enemy places a bounty on you, encouraging every evil spirit and demon to strike in his name. If you were worthless then the enemy wouldn’t waste his time trying to destroy you and your relationship with our Heavenly Father. It’s because of your value that the bounty is so high and the attacks are so intense.
When times get tough as they always will, force a smile on your face and be reminded that you are God’s child, and no matter what you go through, He and Jesus will always see you through. Keep saying it until you feel it deep inside, until you are declaring it firmly, intensely, and with a power and passion that can’t be rocked. You weren’t birthed here to go at this world alone. These are the stomping grounds of the enemy, but God allows him and his minions to exist, so that same Power is what fuels you each day. Tap into God, remember who and what you are, remember why you are here and how God is molding you.
Speak these words aloud with me:
“I am God’s child, priceless in every way. God’s love for me is immeasurable and the degree He will go to guide and protect me is incalculable. He sent His son to show us our truth and to dispel the lies of the enemy. I know that no matter what I go through, no matter what the enemy says and does, God and Jesus will ALWAYS see me through. I trust them. I lean on them, now and always.”
Now say it again with a smile on your face.
“I am God’s child, priceless in every way. God’s love for me is immeasurable and the degree He will go to guide and protect me is incalculable. He sent His son to show us our truth and to dispel the lies of the enemy. I know that no matter what I go through, no matter what the enemy says and does, God and Jesus will ALWAYS see me through. I trust them. I lean on them, now and always.”
Family, I want you to say those words until you believe it. Say them whenever you need to be reminded. And never forget to live each day demonstrating this belief through action. I love you all and I pray that through thick and thin you always keep your eyes and heart focused on God and Jesus. Don’t believe those lies the enemy tells. Tap into and hold onto the Truth, and it will free you from all bonds. When the enemy lies to you, rebuke those words and declare the Truth.
Don’t you dare minimize yourself to a being that has no power over you.
Prayer
Father, I pray that even in times of pain, frustration, grief, and anger, that I never forget that I am the perfect reflection of You; that I am a spiritual being having a human experience and not a human being having a spiritual experience; and that as a spiritual being, living in and of Your Spirit, the distress I feel is temporary and actually nonexistent.
By giving in to the distress and allowing my hope and faith to wane, I reduce myself to mere flesh and bone, and forget the demonstration that I am supposed to be having while on Earth. Help me to get and stay focused, Father. Help me to see and always remember my purpose here, and to never ever ever give up on life, living, and serving You and the least of Your children, and doing so humbly and graciously.
In Your Name I pray and give thanks. 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
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
Moses answered the people, “Do not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you see today you will never see again.
Exodus 14:13
Reflection
The bondage of today will be freedom tomorrow as long as you turn your cares, worries, and fears over to the Lord to handle.
God knew that He wouldn’t just have to free His people physically, but He would have to free their minds, hearts, spirits, and souls. They were enslaved in every possible sense. That is why they struggled so much. They even struggled for more than 1,500 years after Moses led them out of Egypt.
As many times as they were forced into exile, they still couldn’t see that their tendency to fall back into their slave mindset of their past lives in Egypt, was the reason they couldn’t obey and atone—to be AT ONE with God.
We Are Slaves on Our OWN Plantation
If you find yourself in constant struggle, pain, stress, fear, anger, conflict, confusion, and depression, YOU ARE IN BONDAGE. You have the power to be free. You are a child of God. He made you. He gave you the Holy Spirit to tap into. God needs you to be vulnerable, just like Him, so you can be free to fall into His trustworthy “arms”. Stop resisting.
Control Freaks & Micromanagers
Stop trying to dictate to Him how your relationship with Him should be. We’re abusing Him and our relationship with Him. If you are a control freak like me, and yes that includes you micromanagers out there, yeah you—NOW is the time to admit, like I’m being forced to do, that this control we keep trying to hold on to is actually self-imposed bondage. We are slaves to our inability to trust self, others, and God. And since we can’t trust we can’t be trusted.
The only things we should be controlling are:
Our mouths: from speaking negative and evil things
Our minds: from entertaining negative and evil thoughts
Our bodies: from doing negative and evil things to it and to others
The domino effect is a changed heart, experiences, and life. Stop treating God like your servant, like a “side piece’ you can call up whenever you want some attention. God is our everything and we should treat Him accordingly. Let Him do what He’s always wanted to do for you.
Stand Back And Let God
Let Him change those who attempt to stunt your growth or control you. He can do this by touching their hearts or removing them from your space and place. What is rightfully yours will be yours, and you can never lose what is rightfully yours. What is meant to be, God will bring to fruition without your doing, persuasion, manipulation, or bargaining.
Look at your current situation and if it needs improvement, even drastically, know that God has it handled, and it was taken care of long before you became aware of the circumstances. Everything we need in life God has already provided, we just need to see them and embrace our blessings as they are delivered before us.
We need to walk in obedience and full alignment with Him. He’s assigned us work; we have a mission, and we are wasting time walking around with these shackles on.
We Give The Enemy Ammunition
The enemy will keep trying to stir up trouble in my life and in yours, as long as it sees that it can. We fuel it. We give it the ammunition to attack. We give in to temptation. We keep saying God isn’t working fast enough. We keep blaming everyone else for our conditions, unhappiness, and lack. We create the perfect environment for the enemy.
Our Deliverance
This is not the time to fret and cry, but the time to dig down even deeper in our faith and reach our hands to the Lord for deliverance.
How long? Not long.
Not long before I am delivered from these shackles of fear, pain, shame, guilt, sorrow, and frustration. Not long indeed, for God has already worked things out for me. I just have to open my eyes and look through the lens of faith to see clearly that I am already free!
The same applies to YOU!
Aren’t you sick and tired of being sick and tired? Aren’t you tired of being the victim? God didn’t make you that way, it’s not in His DNA to be one, so why are you embracing a lie?
Lovingly I share this message with all of you today. I hope that something I’ve said has touched your heart, opened your eyes, and shed light on your today and tomorrow. We must let go of thinking about yesterday and what woulda, coulda, and shoulda happened had we done this or that.
We must let go of the past and what someone did or didn’t do to us, and live in the present of what God is providing for us today.
We are free, my brothers and sisters. You have to change your heart and mind, so that your eyes can see the truth. We are free! We just have to walk off that plantation and stop trying to return. We have to walk away from Egypt and never look back. Are you ready to take that first step? Are you ready for your best and brightest days ever?
Prayer
Father, I pray for deliverance from fear, pain, shame, untrustworthiness, betrayal, ignorance, lies, deceit, and negativity.
Father, I normally would cry out and beg You to free me from bondage and restore me to my rightful place, but I realize that I’m bound by my words and actions. I know that in order for me to be freed from the grip of those who use me for their own personal gain, I must stop using You for my personal gain. To be freed from those who selfishly take from me but they never fully give of themselves in return, I must stop being selfish and taking from You, yet never fully giving myself to You.
Free me from myself, for the same ways that others use me, I am a user of You and others. Soften my heart to free fall and give myself away to You, so that You can use me as You see fit. Open my eyes Lord so that I can evolve from merely looking to actually seeing what’s before me. 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
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
2 Thessalonians 3:16
Reflection
Let God make you whole. Let Jesus show you the way. In order for these things to happen, you have to be okay with being vulnerable, and in that vulnerability you have to be willing to let go of yourself, your understanding, what you believe to be fact and truth, and what you believe to be possible and impossible.
You have to trust that God and Jesus can do more than the Bible says, more than what people testify, and more than what your mind can currently comprehend. You have to trust that in letting go there is nothing you need to do or say, because they have you—and they have already taken care of the variables that you never thought to consider.
Jesus wants to show you the way, be the way to God, be your truest brother. He’s just waiting on you.
God wants to pour into you unfathomable things and experiences. God wants to have the strongest, most loving, impenetrable relationship with you. A marriage like no other. But He’s waiting on you!
God and Jesus are waiting on you, on me, on us.
You may be going through a lot right now, physically, mentally, financially, and spiritually. Your stress, anxiety, grief may be overwhelming you. That’s because you’re trying to fix these things. You’re relying on the limits of man. You need an unlimited, constant, unwavering source. Your solution is God and Jesus.
God blessed us with the Holy Spirit, to be connected in a way that the old covenant (in the Old Testament) did not provide. Tap into that source. Let it pour into and out of you. Speak to God in a way your human mind cannot yet comprehend. Don’t resist that energy that flows within you, that bubbles up urging you to let it flow out of you.
Pray for the stillness of peace and let that peace comfort you in your times of need.
Stop trying to deal with things in the natural and get yourself settled into the supernatural, as the spiritual being you are. Let the Holy Spirit do what it does so that you can be all that you were created to be, to have the relationship with God and Jesus that your heart truly desires.
It’s your choice, as always….
Prayer
Abba, fill me with your peace so that I might walk straight, regardless of the circumstances that come my way. Let me be humble and more like Jesus as I face daily challenges, and deal with people who at times can be unloving and unkind. I want to make the right choice, to not mirror their behavior, but instead mirror the life of Jesus.
I pray for the courage through vulnerability to open myself up and allow the Holy Spirit to be free in me, in every way that You need, so that You and I can have the type of relationship that we’re supposed to have. I want to be completely faithful to You, unwavering and impenetrable.
Use me Father. Help me to let go and open myself to You, so that I may have peace and be peace. In Jesus’ name I pray to You, El-Elyon, Hashem Uzi. Praising You always.Amen.
Note: El-Elyon in Hebrew means “God Most High” and Hashem Uzi means “The Lord of Strength”. The word Abba means “Father” in Aramaic (one of the semitic languages Jesus (Yeshua) spoke) and Abba is used in Jewish liturgy and prayers.
I hope that clarification helps.
Love,
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
Please click on the audio player below to listen to today’s message. Thank you!
Scripture
All those who were in distress or in debt or discontented gathered around him, and he became their commander. About four hundred men were with him.
1 Samuel 22:2
Reflection
We don’t have a modern-day David to rally around, to be our leader, and that’s okay. There should be a little bit or a “lotta bit” of David within you, motivating you to keep pressing onward and upward, seeking and speaking with God along the way. The same God that made David is the same God that made you. Find within yourself that which God made especially for you.
David was on the run from Saul, who had stopped being faithful to God, and because of his bruised ego and paranoia, he had every intent on killing David. He got a glimpse at what God saw in David, and it made Saul jealous. For most of us, we’re not running and hiding from human tormentors and assassins. Our enemy is the father of lies and those who knowingly and unknowingly follow him. The enemy pulls the strings of people who aren’t firmly rooted in God’s foundation. Our enemy is the same enemy that manipulated Saul, causing his fear and insecurity to become so intense that he believed the only solution was to kill David, and anyone he suspected of aiding David.
How was it possible to manipulate Saul? Because the same fear and insecurity that Saul had is the same fear and insecurity that the enemy has. The enemy sees what God sees in us, and it makes the enemy bitter and resentful, determined to destroy the beloved humans that God created and made a covenant with.
The father of lies works on our mind just as wickedly, looking for ways to expose and exploit our perceived weaknesses and vulnerabilities. He is hellbent on convincing us that the lies are truth and that God can’t and won’t help us. Look at how the enemy ramps up his efforts leading to and during various holidays and anniversaries. During these periods, our hearts and minds are open and more vulnerable to testing, tempting, and manipulation. We’re consumed by nostalgia and sentimental moments and memories. We need to be cognizant of this plot and mindful of the importance of doubling down in our hope, faith, and obedience to God.
We’re approaching the Fall and Winter holidays and this becomes a time when more people gain the most weight, stress out even more than any other time of the year, health concerns rise, and when debt collectors turn up the heat and get busy harassing and scaring you the most. This is the time when appliances start to give out, your car seems to have the most issues, your utility bills increase, and your patience runs thin. This is also the time when you need to bear down, kneel down, and pray to God and Jesus for strength, clarity, vision, patience, and the understanding to not only get through these times, but to overcome and thrive above them.
In Day 158 of my Seek Him: Workbook 2, I ask you to write down all of the ways that God has blessed you this year. The list should be so long that you run out of space on your paper. Even if you feel the pressures of life bearing down on you, you should also see the blessings that God is pouring in, on, and through you.
You may not have 400 people standing beside and behind you, but look around and I guarantee you have someone there. There’s someone helping, protecting, vouching, sharing, praying, and believing in you. You may be so worn out that you don’t see them clearly, but please believe that they are there, and they want your belief to far surpass theirs.
Let’s be grateful for our blessings and experiences. Let’s pray for our ability to see and use the provisions God has provided us, and pray for healing from sin, sickness, and disease.
Prayer
Father, I pray that You place before me and show me the answers to my distress, discontent, and debt. Father, help me to remedy my situation so that my life has more balance. Help me so that my debts are forgiven as I have forgiven my debtors. Provide me the tools, resources, and path out of this stressful circumstance, so that I may have a clear mind focused solely on You, and not just on me and the lack that I think I see.
Father, heal me of my inflictions. Make me whole in my sight and reality, disproving human naysayers, and turning miracles into moments of “It is” because You are. For every day and every moment is a miracle, and it’s because You make it possible.
Remove this fear Lord. Remove the fear of losing something. Remove the anxiety caused by fear. Remove what fear produces. Remove the pain and discomfort. Remove the shame and guilt. Free me Lord. I want a life filled with daily gratitude, no matter the circumstances or lies that the enemy tells. In Your Name I pray and praise. Amen.
I love you all and pray you find the peace within to shine as perfect reflections of God.
Lovingly,
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. BreakingBreadWithNatasha.com
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Scripture
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
Matthew 7:12
Reflection
The very things that you want and need in life, that which you hope to receive from others, should be the very things you’re freely giving. The way you expect to be treated, is how you should be in return. If you want respect, give it. If you want to be left with your dignity then leave others with theirs. If you want someone to treat you with grace, be gracious. If you want fairness, be fair. If you want honesty then be honest.
If you want someone to be on time to meet you, be on time to meet them, and others. If you want faithfulness and loyalty, then be totally faithful and loyal. If you want extra money, then give money freely to others who are in need. Pay your employees what you would want to be paid. Tip your service provider what you would want to be tipped. Make good faith payments so the same are made to you.
What you want you will receive when you first put it out there. Make sense?
Only narcissists, sociopaths, and psychopaths expect something for nothing, expect the extreme from others while they do the bare minimum. Only they deem it acceptable to lie, cheat, steal, and harm, while expecting everyone else to be righteous and noble. They are in a special category, taking much longer to mold and align to God. If you aren’t in that category, then you know what to do to receive what you want and need.
Now, let’s get out there, be the change we want to see, and create a world of positive reciprocity!
Prayer
Father, thank You for another day of life, freedom, peace, and a chance to make a positive difference in my life, someone else’s life, in my community, and in the world. Father, add an extra layer of strength to me today and moving forward, as I face challenges that I have avoided, or that just surfaced. I rest on You as You carry me through valley and mountain experiences, and treacherous storms.
Father, touch my heart so that in each circumstance I treat others as I would want to be treated, emulating Your son’s walk through life. In Your Name and his I pray. Amen.
Love always, your sister in Christ,
Natasha
Copyright 2011-2022. Natasha L. Foreman. Some Rights Reserved. All Prayers and Reflections are Copyright Protected by Natasha L. Foreman. breakingbreadwithnatasha.com
I know that I’ve been missing for about two weeks. There’s been a lot going on in my world. But thankfully, God guided me through each day and circumstance. Oh, the testimony I have to share.
But in the meantime, check out today’s Breaking Bread message. It will reach your inbox shortly.
Breaking Bread With Natasha 