Pam Padgett, member of the body of Christ
In the night I woke with several things going through my mind ... concern about a woman in our church group who would like to move to Colorado but had been going about this in a deceptive way and is now restructuring her thinking and needs help in what to do now ... concern about a Christian man we know who is experiencing anxiety as he leaves his job as a fireman and begins working full-time in his (previously) part-time business ... intercession for Joan as she deals with various people in the church as well as warning the church about that which is coming ... concern about a physical problem I'm having, constipation for about 5 days ... what to say to contractors who have said we don't owe them anything for work they did to help us and we want to give them money for this.
I was reminded of what we're told in Psalm 62:8 about pouring out our heart before God.
Psalm 62:8 Trust in HIM at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before HIM: God is a refuge for us.
So I started talking with God about each individual thing going through my mind, telling HIM how I felt about each aspect of the matter and asking for HIS help. In a couple matters, I had a specific request which I asked for (Philippians 4:6-7).
Pouring out my heart before God like this greatly helped and calmed me, and I was then able to sleep.
I was also given ideas on how to handle some of the things.
*For the
constipation, to take Dulcolax soft chews with warm water. This took
care of the problem the following morning.
*For the man with anxiety, to
share with him about pouring out our heart before God with what concerns
us.
*For the contractors, to send checks with a note that although they
didn't charge us for the work they did, we appreciate what they did and
want to send this gift.
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 5:7 Casting all your care upon HIM; for HE careth for you.
Also, I've been reminded of something that happened to me a few years ago in which the devil tried to stop me from pouring out my heart before God like this, but the Holy Spirit brought truth which enabled me to do this ...
One morning in 2020 shortly after I woke, thoughts of what I needed to do were going round and round in my mind. It was like bees buzzing around and around.
I said to myself "I need to sit down and talk with God about all these things and see how HE wants me to handle them."
Then a thought came (from devil) ... "You have too many other things to do. You don't have time to talk with God."
For just a second I was stunned. "I don't?"
But immediately the Holy Spirit rose up in me and said, "You need help, and God is your help."
That's right!
I sat down and started talking with God about the things needing to be done that were going through my mind.
As I talked with God it became clear that there were only 2 things going round and round in my mind, but the way they were going round and round in my mind it seemed like a lot more. And neither of these things even needed to be done that day!
As I talked with God, I was astounded at how quickly I was completely calmed.
I began thanking God for the amazing peace that had come over me so quickly.
Then I was reminded of the following ...
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing;
but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let
your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Exactly what had just happened!
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Comments by Joan Boney ...
John 10 Jesus says:
5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.
Voice of "strangers", devils:
- cause us to panic
- filling us with fear
- driving us rather than leading us
- steal, kill, destroy (devil)
- turn us from Word of God
- turn us from praying to God, ("no need to pray")
- devils often hit us with confusion and it is like we are being slapped, boxed on one cheek and then another
- confusion, turmoil, no joy, no peace (often making us think we have to act immediately or future will be impossible)
Notice how "negative" thoughts from devils can be.
***
Voice of God, Holy Spirit:
- leads us
- gives us options which we have never considered
- gives us information so we can make godly choice
- comforts us
- "Is it true?" Spirit of Truth
God's yoke is easy and HIS burden is light. Matthew 11
We know the voice of God and we can recognize the voice of "strangers".
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