My Sustainer in the middle of my desert..

I can't believe sometimes how in awe I am of my Father in heaven! Just trying to figure out what to write to everyone in this post, I was praying and thinking about what is going on in my life, and that's when the Holy Spirit reminded me. God has sustained me for the last 3 years in my faith walk with Him. And when I mean sustained, I mean He has provided for me for 3 years in a way that no man can fathom. I was fortunate today to chat with someone who started to question my faith and my knowledge of the Lord. As that was happening, I realized they were in pain. In the middle of this attack on my faith, this person stated how God was not putting food in the fridge and paying the bills. As soon as I heard that I started praying for that person, because I knew, and I am living proof, that God does JUST that!

I am a single parent in California. As most of you know it's expensive to live anywhere in California. I have been a single parent for 3 years, since my son and I started our journey together. When I had my son I could not imagine going back to work. I could not fathom leaving him to be raised by someone else. I had wanted to be a mother sooooo bad and there was no way that I was going to work full-time regardless of the fact that I was a single parent. The closer it got for me to be on my own, the more I knew it was not God's will to work outside of the home. I feel, and whole-heartedly believe that God instilled these feelings in my heart. Before going on my own I prayed, and I prayed, and I prayed. All signs pointed to childcare. And I am not a babysitter, was all I thought. I am a business manager. I like to run things and multi-task and be busy. Well...little did I know...you are all of those things when watching children.

I moved out on my own, and here I am working for someone, watching their children out of their home. I was allowed to bring my own 9 month old child with me to work everyday. I worked less than a mile from home, and made very good money. This was my first miracle. Throughout the next few years, God has provided for me in ways I can't even tell you. I have a large home with a lot of things, and everything in my home has been given to me. And I am not talking about cheap things, and I do not beg people for free things. You know what I do? I pray. As soon as I pray for a need, God has met that need. I realized that standing on the Word of God meant I was able to tap into all of His resources.

The Bible says:
" Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?" Matthew 6:26

Wow - are we not worth more than the birds of the air? God is in control of everything. All we are required to do is ask and receive. Here's another one for you...

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes?" Matthew 6:25

Awesome! It says to stop worrying about your life, what you will get and what you won't get. Jesus told His disciples He is the bread of Life. We don't need anything other than Him! I recently went to a retreat where someone stated that worrying literally means to choke. So when you worry, you are choking yourself! Wow!

I am telling you that I have not made hardly any money in the last few years. But God is faithful. When I needed food, I cried out to my God! When I needed clothes, gas, bills paid, etc., I cried out to my God and He provided. Do you know how hard it is to be a single parent and work out of the home? It's nearly impossible. But with God, all things are possible. Praise you Lord!

So I want to touch on something real quick. I think I let it slip by after quoting it. During Philippians 4:6 it says to ask God in prayer for the things you need, but it also says WITH THANKSGIVING! Wow. Here is a show-stopper! I don't think people understand this enough. What God is saying here, is that you not only have to ask, but you have to thank Him for what you are asking Him for. Whoa. So I have to ask God, but how can I thank Him if I am not sure He will answer my prayer? Woo hoo...are you here with me? This is the point, we have to believe what we are asking for before we can receive it!! Ouch! So if you don't believe that you will receive what you are petitioning God for, you won't get it! And how do we believe before we receive you may ask? Because God's word says so! That's why we need to KNOW what God's word says. We need to know it so we can stand on His promises. So we can stand on the verses I just shared with you.

The Bible says:
"so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11

Again, I want to get back to thanking God for our prayer requests. For some reason I grew up very negative. I had a lot of bad mind strongholds that were impossible, in my mind, he he, to get rid of. But the point is the more we control our minds, the better we can control our lives. For me, a HUGE part of this, is thanking God every day for what He has ALREADY given me. That was my first thought when my nay-sayer today started saying that God didn't put food in the fridge. I thought, wow, how sad they have no idea what they already have! When you can see how much we have in America and other countries compared to our fellow human beings, we are sickeningly blessed!

I am telling you, when I got a breakthrough with my faith was when I started thanking God for what I have instead of focusing on what I didn't have. The more we can look up to God, the less we see our circumstances. The more I praise Him, the less I worry about what is going on around me. The more I honor His name, the more He honors me. The more I pray for others, the more God answers my prayers. God is so simple, dear one! All He wants is you and your belief! He wants you to glorify His name because He made all things. Just as much as you don't like it when your family complains about something you do or don't do, our heavenly Father feels the same way. The more my wonderful little son comes to me and tells me he loves me and he wants to just sit with me, the more I want to love him and give him everything he desires.

I pray you continue looking to God for all your needs. I encourage you to continue to pursue God with everything in you. You will not be disappointed! God's love is amazing!! Keep praising Him, keep looking at what you do have, keep reading the scripture and hiding the words in your heart..."I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11

Listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling you. Do what the Bible tells you to do. And just keep thanking God for what you have. I guarantee, I guarantee, that if you continue to change your perspective, you won't care what you have or don't have. Praise God!!

I love you and I am hopeful that you will continue in the path God has planned for you! He is amazing, and we need to be in awe of Him every day! I pray that for you and for me. Thank you Lord for your glory and your power. Thank you Lord for sustaining us even when we didn't think it was possible. Thank you Lord for being our shelter and our comforter! I praise you Lord for your continual love and faithfulness!

With all the love Jesus had on the cross when he died for you,
Cortnee :)

3 comments:

lynnmosher said...

Oh, Cortnee! This is my biggest soapbox! To praise and thank the Lord changes everything! This was an awesome post! I'm so glad I got to read it. May the Lord bless you with an abundance of heavenly surprises! Blessings...Lynn

Marsha said...

I'm with you here on thankfulness in ALL things. I've traveled to many 3rd world countries. I have a daughter and her family in Kenya as missionaries. I'm well acquainted with how much we are as Americans. I've come to the point where I don't know that I'd call it a blessing anymore because so many misuse what they've been given.

BTW, I found your blog via a RT from a friend of mine. I'm going to go ahead and follow you and Twitter.

Please feel free to come by my blog anytime for encouragement.

Blessings to you and your precious little boy!

Marie said...

Cortnee - keep sharing your story - it will encourage others to keep going. Many people know they are not alone but it helps really seeing it and connecting with others who have "been there" - I'm glad to know you and a part of your world. I hope that I can be an inspiration and encouragement to you in some way.

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