Category: Christian Empowerment

Ministry post to encourage and empower.

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Waiting on Your Mate With God | Devotional 6

Published on by Johnnatta Giles3 Comments

Soulmates and Soul Ties

Sometimes there is a confusion between what a soul mate is and a person you may have soul ties with. Soul ties are demonic strongholds that often time present themselves in your relationships. These relationships often are fueled by heightened emotions. These emotions range from over excitement to love sickness. Along with these emotions they will be accompanied by obsession, confusion, chaos and heart break. This constantl roller coaster of feelings will recycle itself over and over again as long as you have a relationship with this person. But when you find a soulmate this man will always bring a spirit of peace, deep love, spiritual fruit and oneness.

Are there men in your life that brings you pain and chaos?

How many past relationships have you experienced soul ties?

Have you ever felt you were with a soul mate only for them to end up abusive and neglectful?

Do you believe that spiritual influences affect your relationships like the Bible says? Why or Why not?

“For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12

When we talk about relationships we cannot ignore the spiritual element of this topic. When a woman is in a relationship that constantly produces chaos and pain the enemy is present in that relationship. This does not mean that the enemy will not attack a God centered relationship but the massive difference in a soul tie relationship and a soul mate one is the soul mate will always produce peace even in the midst of storms. Before I met my husband I was “in love” with a guy and experienced this for the first time in my adult life. Every time I was around him or thought about him I would instantly feel over excitement and love sick. So love sick to the point I could not eat. I had the same experience with my first boyfriend when I was 16 years old. But then I thought it was just a teenage phase until it happened again with the next young man. I was older by then and was spiritually mature enough to know this was not normal. We flirted back and forth often but I always felt he was out of reach. The guy would play mind games and my attraction to him kept pulling me back in. When I realized how this was affecting me I began to pray and ask God to help me. Soon I was healed and delivered but this spirit would not let up that easy. Months later I met my husband and we were in a relationship. They guy I was once interested in was still in my friend circle so avoiding him was near impossible. The guy knew I had moved on and all of a sudden became more interested in me. I completely ignored him but noticed the pull of this spiritually force anytime we were near each other. It got to the point where I could no longer hang out with friends when he was around. With a soul tie it is always a demonic presence involved. It’s not so much the person but there is a spirit dwelling among that relationship to bring chaos and disruption. For your sake let this guy go. He is there by design distracting you from following the will of God in your life.

When a man and woman become one flesh as it states in Matthew 19:6, this is a spiritual connection. When a soul mate enters the scene, you will notice that you are at peace with him. When God is involved the first thing He will want you to know is that you are safe. You will sense this spiritually not outwardly. Safety does not always mean what a man does for you but what spirit he brings with him. This is why we took so much time to address your own spiritual state because it will be the deciding factor in helping you find the one. A man can be nice to you, make you feel empowered and put you first but sometimes those are power plays of an abusive controlling man. A soul mate will put God first in his life and therefore will operate in your relationship that honors God above all else. This is true security with a man not how much money he brings. Life happens and sometimes people loose jobs and miss out on opportunities, but if God is first in a man’s life you can have peace in knowing that man will always be able to provide you with what you may need to keep you secure physically, finically and spiritually. A soulmate will not play games with you. He will be upfront on who he is and what he wants out of your relationship. He won’t float around the idea of marriage he will know if that is in his plans or not. A man of God plays no games with your heart because he understands that your a God’s daughter. My husband and I have had our share of trials as a married couple. One thing has always been true for us is that no matter what we have gone through God has held us together and peace has remained. When you are with the one you were made for, and God bring you both together it is His spirit that holds you as one.

Are you ready to leave behind your soul ties and wait on your soulmate?

Prayer

Pray that the Lord will help you identify soul ties in your relationships even the non romantic ones. Rebuke the enemy from your midst as you have the authority to do so in the name of Jesus Christ according to Luke 10:19. Pray over yourself for healing, restoration and peace. Ask the Lord to give you the gift of the Spirit according to His will and give you eyes that see and ears that hear. Ask the Lord to reveal to you the plans of the enemy and pray against those plans. Pray for protection against those the enemy uses to attack you and keep you in chaos. Pray for them that God will deliver them and set them free of demonic influence. In Jesus Christ name, Amen.

Christ Mindset

According to Luke 10:19 I have authority in Jesus Christ to rebuke the devil, his plans and his cohorts. I want to be set free and I proclaim I am set free in the name of Jesus Christ. The enemy has no authority over me. The Lord in His perfect timing will lead my soul mate to me. The Lord loves me and does all things for my good and therefore anything that comes to me that produces evil is not of Him. Anything good is from the Lord anything bad is from the devil.

Heart and A cross
A Bible is open surrounded by flowers and cotton cloths.

Waiting On Your Mate With God Devotional 5

Published on by Johnnatta Giles2 Comments

A Courting Guide

I hear all the time how horrifying it is to date in modern times. But when has dating ever been easy? Dating itself is a very new and modern way of finding a spouse. Before this people used to court in various ways. Some ways were good and some ways not so much like arranged marriages. Although these ways may seem ancient, they had better success than dating has. The biggest difference I have observed from the past way of finding a spouse is you had a community or family to support you and help you make this decision. Unfortunately so many of us come from broken homes and fractured relationships that we just don’t have that support like we used to. Thank God for the Holy Spirit and the discernment He brings.

What do you know about the difference between dating and courting?

Do you think courting is old fashioned?

Are you willing to leave behind dating?

Will you trust God only to help you find the one?

“It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.” John 6:45

Jesus quoted the prophecy above to remind the people that we are now led by God himself and though we may lack spiritual guidance in the people around us, God will always teach us His ways directly. Modern dating actually does the opposite. It takes out the Lord being in control and puts you in control. It’s you deciding who you want to be with based off your limited knowledge about yourself and others. It may sound unrealistic to rely on God to help you court, but you can never fail when God is in control. Here are some steps through my own experience that will help you court effectively.

Ask all the questions and do not let your feelings for him stop you from asking important ones!

My husband and I asked every question we could think of, all over text message. In between our work days we would respond to questions and at night before bed we talked on the phone. We quickly became fast friends and it was becoming obvious we were falling for each other. So I prayed one night to the Lord for discernment. “Lord, I really like this guy and I need to ask him the important questions. The answer to these non negotiables will determine if I move forward with this man in an actual relationship. It will break my heart if the amswers are not what I want to hear but I am putting you first above all else.” I sent my husband the first question.” Do you want children in the future?” His answer was yes. Then right before I could send the second question he actually sent it right back to me and asked “Do you have a relationship with God?” and I said, “God is everything to me.” And those two questions confirmed to us both that God had led us to each other.

What are your top 3 non negotiables? If he does not want those things in his future it may be time to move on.

On your meet ups don’t focus so much on what your doing get to know each other deeply.

My husband and I went to the movies our first time hanging out together. It was during this time together I learned just how much the Lord meant to him and I felt convicted about some of the lack in my own faith. On the way home we talked about spiritual things and our beliefs about the world around us. This conversation continued to confirm we were absolutely made for each other. It’s important to express your deepest beliefs with each other even if you think the guy your talking to may judge you. Your beliefs matter. These beliefs are what makes you who you are and it’s important that you match up with your future spouse because these will be the foundation of your marriage and your family. The Bible constantly warns us to not be unequally yoked. It never tells us we should marry a spouse in hopes of turning them towards God. In fact the Lord consistently warns His people that those who marry outside of the faith will have issues with thier spouses turning them away from Him. This is why it is forbidden for God’s people to marry anyone who is not of the same faith. So do not ignore this important step.

Take it slow it will be so worth it!

My husband and I definitely did things backwards at first. We had sex before we were married and we became parents before we were husband and wife two months into our relationship. But not too long after we discovered I was pregnant we decided to sleep in separate rooms and wait until marriage to have sex again. Someone said to us it doesn’t really matter at that point since we were already expecting a baby. But redemption does matter and we wanted to honor God! It reminds me of the story of the King Nebucanzer. Where he was warned to turn from his sin and choose God. But he continued to sin and got exactly what God said he would get. Nebecanzaer could have just said “What’s the point? I’ve been punished might as well keep going and live my life!” But he didn’t. He praised God and gave himself fully over to the Lord even more so and God blessed him with an abundant life better than his life before. It’s never too late to start over. Our desire to honor God never stopped despite our mistakes. God even gave us favor in trying to do that in the blessing of our daughter. She was born beautiful and perfectly healthy a testimony to God’s faithfulness when we repent and choose Him. Our blessings only increased and the Lord continues to this day showing us favor. Do not rush into anything and if you already have it’s not too late to turn things around. You will be blessed.

Do not skip premarital counseling.

When you do get engaged to be married pre martial counseling is absouletly worth it. Think of it as the final moments to get to know each other even more and test your relationship’s resilence. Our counselar said to us that it was his job to try to break us up because if we can talk about the hard things and get through them we can have a succesful marriage. That sorta terrified me but once we got started I saw the power and fruits of it. Because of counseling we had the tools we needed to deal with communication issues and our first few years were greatly blessed. Many people wait far too long to do counseling as a couple. They tend to start when things have gone wrong. But if you would start off getting help in the beginning your will avoid a lot of headaches the first few years of your marriage. If you have a trustworthy minister or Christian counselor led by the spirit and biblically based, ongoing counseling will greatly bless you as well. There is a reason the Bible encourages it because having a neutural party help you come to reconcilliation and understanding helps avoid years of marriage hardship. But if you don’t have this support pray together and study the word together. Share scriptures with one another throughout your work weeks. Find time to pray and Bible study in person. That alone will be enough because the Holy Spirit is the great counselor.

Prayer

Pray that the Lord will help you move out of the dating mindset and show you how to court for your spouse. Pay that He would help you be brave to express your no negotibales and put Him first above all else. Ask the Lord to give you strength to be patient even when you know you love the man in front of you. Pray that the Holy Spirit will give you self control which is a fruit of the spirit. Pray for the man you are speaking to, even if you have to part ways. In Jesus Christ name. Amen.

Christ Mindset

The Lord is faithful to me therefore He can lead me to the right person. I have peace that surpasses all understanding so I do not have to fear when I give things over to God. He knows me deeply and knows what’s best for me.

Heart and A cross
A beautiful basket of flowers with a Bible by the window

Waiting On Your Mate With God | Devotional 4

Published on by Johnnatta Giles2 Comments

Lifted Burdens

There are many things that we have control over and there are also many things we cannot control. We can control who we spend our time with, what lifestyle we will live and many more small daily decisions.. But we can’t make someone love us and we have no control over another persons decision making. So how do we handle the things we can’t control? When we give ourselves over to God completely, our burdens lift easily. But sometimes we do not have the faith we think we have in order to do this and even our salvation may need to be questioned. God can have control over our lives but we must be His in the first place in order for Him to do so. I have a friend who told me about how much different she was when she was younger. She said to me “I was so selfish and self centered yet I believed I was Christian. But the fruits of my life said otherwise.” Do the fruits of your life testify to your salvation? What does it really mean to be saved? These are important questions because many people think they have a strong relationship with the Lord but when they go into prayer they remain undelivered by their burdens.

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,” Luke 4:18

What is your salvation story?

Does your story line up with what the gospel says it is and does?

If you are truly saved, but have strayed, are you willing to rededicate your life to Christ?

Have you been baptized by water and the spirit as Jesus says in John 3:5?

The truth is, many do not know the real gospel as there are many false gospels being preached. The popular phrase “God’s got me” does not mean He does just because you say it. How can God have you when you haven’t even become saved? Understand there is nothing you can do to earn salvation. Jesus Christ died on the Cross so that we can be reconciled back to God our creator, our father. He died for all so that we can become one again through him with the Father. Jesus said He came to bring us freedom and in John 10:10 give you an abundant life. When you accept salvation, you choose Jesus in faith, accept him as your Lord and by his example be baptized in both spirit and water. Loving Jesus and believing in him is not enough and I find many people say this is how they came to salvation. But that is not salvation. When we truly accept him as our savior and Lord and do as he commands we receive true salvation. Once you come into this truth your life should radically change. Our fruits of our life is how we live, who we surround ourselves with, the choices we make. These choices should reflect our faith in God and his son. When you put God first above all things he can move in and around you mightily. Then and only then can you have a discerning spirit and the strength to continue in this time of waiting. And guess what? You no longer have to be in control of anything because the Lord will take care of it all! What freedom! You can now know that God can guide your decisions making. All you have to do is focus on what is in your hands. No matter what others do you can have peace knowing God truly does have you.

Are you truly saved? Have you fallen away?

Prayer

For the first time in this devotional series I am going to give you a sample prayer. But let me preface this by saying it is best you pray from your own heart for your salvation. This sample prayer is just an example to show you how to pray for salvation in line with God’s word.

Lord, I have been trying to live my life according to my plans and wants. But God I am a sinner in need of a savior. I truly want to know your son and you. I want you to be Lord over my life and I want to follow your plans for it. I choose salvation in Jesus Christ. I choose you father. Please Lord help me to have an opportunity to be water baptized and baptized in the Holy Spirit. I do not want parts of your plan for salvation but all of it. I love you Lord and choose you over myself and the world. In Jesus Christ name Amen.

Christ Mindset

The Lord has a plan for me and it is good. He saved me through His son so I do not have to do this alone. I am a child of God because of Jesus Christ. God holds sovereignty over my life therefore I am free and safe. God loves me. Jesus loves me.

Heart and A cross
A bible is surrounded by cozy things

Waiting On Your Mate With God | Devotional 3

Published on by Johnnatta Giles2 Comments

Self Preservation and Boundaries

It is a misconceptions that single people are greatly selfish and live only for themselves. While this can be true for some people for some that is not true. When I look back at the time of my life before I met my husband, I realized much of my life was filled with others. I worked, spent time with nieces and nephews and went out dancing with my friends almost every weekend. There were the occasional full weekend to myself but really most of my month I was spending time with someone. I began to realize quickly I needed to set some boundaries with the people I loved. I was healing from a past abusive relationship and I knew if I kept myself busy all the time I would not heal from that trauma. So I began to set aside my Sundays for myself and some Saturdays I resisted calling friends. To be alone and isolated is not wrong or weird. When the Lord puts you in this season He is doing something in your seclusion. Yield to this season and watch the fruits of it show up in the next.

Even the Lord knew how important it was to prioritize alone time with His Father.

“Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.” Luke 5:15-16

Are you afraid to be alone?

How can your isolation bring you healing with God?

What are the things that bring you Joy that is just for you?

What day or days can you pick to just give time to yourself?

It is important we practice self preservation so that we do not loose ourselves in the world around us and we can heal from past mistakes. This becomes extremely important when we become wives and later mothers. Learning this importance now will give you the tools to face life’s future hustle and bustle without loosing your true self. Many people say that once you become married you loose yourself but maybe they never learned this important truth before. Life will happen married or not and it’s important we have boundaries. The worries of this world will try to drag you down into pits of despair and you will never reach true empowerment and freedom. But if you just give yourself time with God, you will regain rest for your soul and keep it.

What would your life look like if you had constant peace?

Prayer

“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Phillipians 4:7

Pray that you will have opportunities that will give you more of your time back. Petition the Lord to heal you of your fears of loneliness. Ask the Lord to reveal to you how to use your alone time fruitfully. Pray for understanding of how to implement boundaries respectfully with your loved ones. Ask the Lord to help you be strong when you are enforcing these boundaries as well. Thank the Lord for His promise of perfect peace. In Christ Jesus name. Amen.

Christ mindset

It’s okay for me to be alone. Boundaries are good for me and for my loved ones. My alone time will be fruitful and bring in perfect peace. The Lord hears my prayers and wants what is best for me.

Heart and A cross
A basket full of purple hydrangea flowers stands behind a bible on a table with a cozt mug.

Waiting On Your Mate With God| Devotional 2

Published on by Johnnatta Giles3 Comments

Forgiveness and Letting Go

Sometimes our past haunts us to the point of crippling us. Men of in our past will periodically pop back up in our minds. This often happens when we are the most vulnerable. We cannot erase our past. But in order to go beyond it we must let go of the relationships that went no where and ended. Our first loves, our first kiss and the first time our heart quickened for someone else only to be rejected. The pain or the joy of those moments are like vapor in the wind. There yesterday but gone today. Some of those experiences mattered, some of them not so much. But remember daughter you are not the same as you were then. At least, you shouldn’t be. In order to prepare ourselves for our future we must slow burn our past and say goodbye.

What relationship memories are you hanging onto you need to let go?

How did God heal you from those past experiences?

If He hasn’t healed you, pray for healing. If He has praise Him when the past comes to haunt.

What did you learn from those relationships and how did they affect who you are now?

Reach out and forgive who you need you forgive. or let go of those you can’t contact, give them to God.

For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Matthew 6:14-15

A healed heart has more room to be filled with Joy and love in the future.

Are you afraid to confront your past? If so why is that and what steps can you take to move past it?

Contrary to popular belief, forgiveness begins with repentance. Think of how in order to be forgiven from God, we must first acknowledge we are sinners then ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness isn’t something that can be given without the first part happening. Often times people say they have forgiven someone yet they have never actually talked to the person in order to do this. That is why confrontation is so important. The generations of today are afraid to confront people as if it’s a terrible thing. But in reality if we miss the opportunity to talk to the ones who hurt us or whom we have hurt, we are missing a great opportunity of true forgiveness. When it comes to romantic relationships it does not mean we are agreeing with everything that was done to us or we are interested in being in a relationship again. All this does is give you and opportunity to say your peace (not in frustration or anger) and also apologize if you have done anything wrong. This opens up the door on the other persons end to do the same and then comes forgiveness. However if you were in a previous abusive relationship confrontation shouldn’t be considered. Then how do you find peace? Letting them go is an act of surrendering them to the Lord. Do what you can only do by letting go of feelings of bitterness, hurt, anger and shame. Letting these feelings go does not mean the person is absolved from all wrong doing, but allows your heart to truly heal. Doing this ensures that resentment and bitterness will never take root in you creating a mess of problems with your future life.

Will you let God restore you His way?

Prayer

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:9

Pray for wisdom in how you should confront your past and obey the Lord when He gives you the answer. Pray and ask God to show you the parts of yourself that need to be revealed that is harboring the sins of unforgiveness and bitterness. Ask the Lord to heal your broken heart and restore your spirit. Ask Him to fill you again with light, joy and peace. Pray that He will help you keep your thoughts and attentions on your relationship with Him and let go of the past. In Jesus Christ name Amen.

Christ Mindset

I can confront my past because it no longer has power over me. Rather anyone forgives me or not God sees my heart and will give me peace. I can let the past go. The past has no hold on me.

Heart and A cross
A Woman takes a Moment To Be

How My Faith Defined My Womanhood

Published on by Johnnatta Giles2 Comments

If you ever met me you would know right away that my faith is my life line. I struggled with my identity my entire young life and the only thing that remained the same was my faith. But I wanted to know deeply who I really was and also who I was as a woman. As a young girl I grew up not fully understanding how to really become a woman. Was it sexuality? Was it woman nature within me? What really made me a woman? I became a mother before I even knew the answer to that question.  Prayer took the lead in my discovery and the Word brought me little understanding. It was then in my spirit I knew I would have to walk this out organically. 

What Makes A Woman?

It’s not so much physiology. I couldn’t look at myself and just see what woman I was. No, I discovered it’s spirituality that really made me the woman I am and then wanted to become. In the depths of my soul what would I find there? Well, some terrifying things as I dug through the surface, but as I began to dig deeper, I found the most delicious treasures. Things hidden in me I never knew existed. There was power, strength, love, weakness and beautiful brokenness that turned out to be the most beautiful parts of the woman in me. I will most likely spend the rest of my life putting those pieces together but it is an Odyssey I am greatly enjoying the fruits of. The journey is transforming the heart of me with every breath, every year that leaves me and wisdom is growing like deep roots of a tree.

Bering a woman means being all that God created us to be. Embracing all of feminimty that’s unique and loving the body we are walking in. Allowing the Spirit to bring us to life and cultvating the very essence of our gifts in Christ. Letting our light shine and not allowing the enemy to use our gifts for our destruction. Being our best advocates instead of our own worst enemy. Lifting other women up in sisterhood but also not being afraid to speak the truth which sets them free. Leading with our men with swords in hand and when the battle comes, suit up in our armor of faith and deafeat the enemy and win the war together, This is womanhood spiritually. And every year I’m learning more and more.

Without my faith I would have never discovered all the gifts in me and all the lack. I discovered the path to something fierce. Behind me He was there cheering me on and loving me.

Don’t stop at the outward, not even the surface once you truly begin your discovery. Dig deep and find the core of the trueness of woman inside of you.

Johnnatta Giles

A rose laid on a bible

Waiting On Your Mate With God | Devotional 1

Published on by Johnnatta Giles2 Comments

When I was young I came to a realization that I had wasted much of my teen years chasing after guys and healing from heart break after heart break. So when I see that more and more younger women are choosing to wait on their mates it fills me with great joy! But I know how exhausting it is just trying to navigate life when your just starting to live it and putting relationship drama on top of that makes it even harder. But also for our seasoned women, I know the heart ache of wondering if you will ever find your soulmate, the loneliness and the pain of regret. Many women are full of dread and wonder if they will ever meet the one that God has for them. Lord willing, you will in His perfect timing! So how do we prepare for this future in a spiritual way? Maybe this devotional will help you find those answers, bring you healing and joy as you wait on your mate with God. This devotional will post every Tuesday once a week at 8:00 am for the next 6 weeks. Take a moment to read the word, reflect and center yourself and your relationship with the Lord as you read this devotional weekly. The hope is to begin your week with the devotional and take time to reflect, pray and journal your answers as the week progresses. May it truly bless you no matter where you are in your journey! Today is week one!

Timing and Foundations

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom” Psalm 90:12

To be wise is to be wealthy! The main thing I prayed as young girl was God give me wisdom! These waiting days are for breaking down walls, healing bruises and gaining new perspective. All of which leads to gaining wisdom. Don’t waste it. When we give ourselves permission to slow down and breathe something begins to shift in us. In these moments of stillness, reflect on your life and where it’s headed in the next week, two months and even a year. 

How does it make you feel to think about your goals in life? 

How would a mate fit into those goals?

Do your goals need to change?

Are you happy where you are?

God’s timing is perfect. Never too late and never too early. But it can be lonely in the waiting period. The unknown is a scary place to dwell but the Lord’s strong hand is upon you. Hold fast!

Can you trust God to lead you to your mate and your mate to you? If not what’s getting in your way of doing so?

The Lord is patient with us and long suffering even when we turn from Him in the moments we should draw closer to Him. Take it from me. The moment I told the Lord I give up on that part of my life was when it opened up the opportunity for what He had for me to move towards me. That surrender was painful but so so sweet! It came faster than I expected but I was so relieved I decided to trust God! My husband is far beyond what I would have chosen for myself. God did His big one when He made Jimmy Giles for me!  In your singleness do not doubt or fear because God knows exactly what you need. Speak life over yourself and your relationship with the Lord and trust in the one that sees you, knows you and loves you like no one else could.  When the time comes for you and your mate to meet, he will receive a great prize in a shining beautiful wise woman. And your relationship will be starting on a rock solid foundation in Christ. But that foundation must start in you first.

Can you trust Him?

Prayer

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassion never fail. They are new every morning: great is your faithfulness” Lamentations 3:23-23

Pray for peace in this time of waiting and pray that the Lord may fill you up with wisdom and discernment. Ask the Lord to give you eyes that see so you are not misled by men that disguise themselves as “the one”. Give thanks to the Lord for His faithfulness and promises. Praise Him for being the creator, the author and deliverer of your life. Give Him thanks for your blessed days. In Jesus Christ name Amen.

Christ Mindset

God accepts me as I am and will help me be all that I was created to be. I am not alone. I have living waters flowing within me. Joy lives in me. Peace reigns in me because of Christ in me.

Next: Waiting on Your Mate With God Devotional 2

A man thinks and waits

You prayed, But He Didn’t Answer

Published on by Johnnatta Giles5 Comments

This is probably one of the biggest concerns I say many Christians have with their walk with the Lord. I see and hear questions like “What if He doesn’t answer me?” ‘Why do I pray but don’t receive what I pray for?” ,”Will He even hear me?” and even “Why don’t my prayers work?.” First I want to say, God hears everything we say and He sees everything we do, so you don’t ever have to guess if He hears you. The Word is full of stories of people crying out to God and Him answering them. There are also stories of people who say things against God in their heart and He punishes them. Even still, there are stories of how the Lord waits long periods to fulfill promises and answer prayers but yet He still does it. I was watching a video last night talking about this a little. How in the waiting season we think God is doing nothing when all the while He is preparing us and refining us to be able to do the very thing we are asking for. When you think He is silent, He is working. For the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective (James 5:16) therefore we know it will not go unnoticed by Him. The problem is how many of us are praying unrighteously or living a life of disobedience yet we are expecting something from a Holy God.

I could sit here and only give you the happy stuff which is the promises, the goodness of who God is and tell you how faithful He is to those who trust in Him. But today I also want to ask you hard questions maybe you haven’t asked enough of yourself. On your end are you doing what God has told you to do? Are you still committing acts of sin? Have you been giving into temptations that have taken you off the course that God has set you on? Take a moment to take your eyes off the question of why you haven’t received what you asked for. Because let it be known, God will never ignore His children and He will answer in His perfect timing. But sometimes we are keeping ourselves from receiving what we are asking for by trying to make our prayers become a reality (manifesting) or jumping back into things we shouldn’t be in instead of being faithful in the waiting. I often think about Sarah and Abraham and how God gave them a promise and then they intervened by taking it into their own hands. Both Sarah and Abraham committed an act of sin because they lacked the patience and faith in their God. I wonder sometimes, would it have taken as long as it did for Isaac to come? Would Sara have been that old when he was born? Sara was barren, having Isaac in general would have been enough of a miracle within itself! Sometimes our answers are far off and need to be for a reason and sometimes well, it’s our fault it’s taken so long.

So what can we do to make sure it’s not the latter? First step to is to walk away from the sin that is binding you and cast down every temptation. Take back authority in your life, submit your flesh unto the Holy Spirit and then comes the waiting. In the waiting we must be faithful to the Lord in all that He has placed in our hands. What I mean by that is, whatever you are holding right now that is yours focus on that. If you have prayed for a new job, do the best of your abilities in the one you already have for God’s glory. If you don’t have a job and want one take care of your home, children and yourself and focus on your relationship with the Lord until your opportunity arrives. If your praying for healing of a sickness or disease, rest and have faith God heard you and is working on the solution to bring you full healing. Praise God everyday for the prayers already answered, for His provisions and protection, for His undying love and favor over your life.

Lastly, your faith alone will determine what you receive and don’t receive. The Lord has already told you, He withholds no good thing from those who love him (Psalm 84:11) and Jesus said simply just ask (John 14: 14) so all that is left to do is believe (Mark 5:36). Do you believe that what you are asking for God will give to you? Do you trust Him to deliver those very things you ask for in His timing? And do you believe His timing is perfect and never too late? Only believe and what you ask for you shall receive.

For The King!

Johnnatta

A tree growing in a rock

Let Us Be Determined

Published on by Johnnatta Giles2 Comments
A tree growing among rocks
A tree doing what it was created to do though it is surrounded by hard circumstances.

I grew up in a small town in Cincinnati Ohio. There wasn’t much there but friends, families and community. In elementary I wanted so badly to beat the school record for climbing rope. While everyone dreaded it every year, I was excited to try it again.  One year our teacher (mostly likely wanting to inspire us to have fun) told us that the record had been held years before we were even born. This peeked our interest.  All of a sudden I was determined to break that record! The third try I studied the way every person climbed and especially those who made it. I took note the shoes they wore and the way their hands gripped the rope. But when it came time for me I failed only reaching halfway.  I was frustrated. My secret goal was hidden from my class because now this was something personal. The next year I was determined to beat that record. I showed up with the right shoes and the mental notes in my head.  As soon as I heard the word “GO” every grip was intentional and I made sure to maintain my speed.  At the top I pushed myself harder than I had ever done.  At the least I would reach the top of this thing! My class was cheering as I did. I finally reached the top! But I forgot to to watch how everyone slid down and I ended up burning my hands. Thank goodness I had jeans on! As soon as my feet hit the floor my gym teacher called out that I had beaten the old record that had stood there since before I arrived at that school! I was shocked and so proud! It was the first time in my life that I realized that I had the power to do what I set my mind to do. I may not always win but my greatest victory was seeing that my hard work produced character and belief in myself.

But in Christ I ALWAYS win.

Brothers and sisters when we see people being bold in ungodliness and determined no matter the backlash to continue to attack and disrupt what is good, why don’t we fight back? Why are we not as determined as they are when we have the wings of thousands upon thousands of angels behind us pushing us forward to do amazing things to combat the darkness? We have the gifts to give children something better than what is in front of them. We have the strength to go the distance because our faith doesn’t rest alone in ourselves but a mighty King that has already over come it all! Rise up I say and be determined to do something instead of shaking your head in disgust. Rise up and allow God to change you so He can use you and watch lives get changed. You can believe in yourself because He is there in you!

God is calling His people out. Come forth and share your gifts! Be apart of the life giving saving grace that is in Christ. Share with the world the light of God through who He made you to be. Be determined to shine and do not fail in doing so! No darkness can overcome the light. Because he has overcome the world you too are an overcomer!

Be bold lions and lionesses of God and go forth in His love. It’s not over yet and He’s not done. Not with the world and not with you!

Shalom

Johnnatta

A woman is earnestly praying

Look Up Because There Your God Is

Published on by Johnnatta Giles2 Comments

Vulnerability is probably not my favorite thing in the world. But it seems I am much better at writing out my vulnerabilities than I am speaking them. And some how some way the Lord uses it in ministry. How many of us are going through the Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fire these days? It’s getting really hot and I’m getting tired of it. Everywhere I turn there is yet something happening. I have been working on using my phone less and focusing more and more on prayer in my spare time. Our bills are going up and I am on my knees begging God for a way over these mountain. I’m either going over or through it! I’m too tired to walk around it. After the tears I began to do what many may deem the oddest thing.

I laughed.

I laughed so hard right in the face of the enemy and told him, no matter what you and your cohorts are up to my God is greater in me than he that is in the world! And guess what? That’s you! He’s greater than all of this and He has already made a way for us to escape this. I got up and started doing some work. When I finished that I went outside and replaced an alternator on my car with my husband and rested for the rest of the night. I was tempted to fall on my face and began crying again but I refused and just confessed peace. I cannot even lie to you, this is a hard time we are living in. But you can also see it as this: an opportunity to test your faith in the Lord. Do you know the Lord says he wants to “test” our faith that it may be refined? Many times people look at testing as overcoming trials but when God speaks of testing, His saying “I want to put this gold in the fire and make it even prettier than it is. I want to make it shine so much that it radiates light!” It’s so we can get stronger, for the message to become clearer in us and that we would not easily be broken. When our faith becomes stronger we can begin to see the mountains before us fall and provisions come we never thought possible. I keep imagining the hands of Jesus in Matthew 17:24-27 holding that coin that Peter took out of that fish’s mouth. Lord if you can provide like that for your son and I am his heir you’ll take care of me too! Brothers and siters have faith! It may be your day off because of the Holiday but make sure you don’t take a day off with Him. Give Him more of your time in this hard season. Praise the Lord in the storms and laugh at the devil because he holds no power over God’s people! And when you get up you’ll begin to watch that mountain fall in the most glorious way. I believe it. Do you?

Much love

Johnnatta