I am persuaded!

It seems like sometimes the hardest thing to do is believe God.  Of course I believe in God, but believing His Word, what He has spoken, and His promises is difficult sometimes.  Unfortunately, sometimes it is a whole lot easier to believe the lies of satan.  Maybe that is because when crazy emotions are involved it becomes a slippery slope downward.

Lately, the enemy has done a good job of making me believe I'm alone, abandoned, unloved, lost, stuck etc. etc.  I am so thankful for people in my life that continue to encourage me, pray for me, and continue to be at the other end of the phone when I'm falling apart.  One such person led me through a prayer Sunday night when I couldn't find the words to pray to the Lord anymore.  That was the turning point for me.  Monday morning... turn off the "sad, feel sorry for myself" music and put back on the worship music (even though I didn't want to).  Sometimes it really is a sacrifice of praise. 

This morning, the drive to work turned into one of the sweetest times with my Lord than I have ever experienced.  I was worshiping along with IHOP's Joy album (Laura Hackett's He's Alive in blue font) and shouting out Truth and telling satan to back off. 

"Now I believe, now I am persuaded

that no power, no principality

Not even death can keep me from Him

I am convinced, I am convinced of the power of His love"

I remember a similar time feeling this way after Jelani died.  I was sitting in the prayer room at IHOP.  I was having a difficult time entering into worship.  I felt like such an outsider.  That's when He spoke to me.  He simply said, "Let Me love you, receive My love."  Whoa! It hadn't occurred to me that I was resisting God.  He never stopped loving me, but I had pushed Him away.  Here I was again.  Not allowing God to fill the loss in my life, the hole in my heart.  But this morning I became persuaded, convinced of His love for me.

"There is no power in heaven or hell
That can keep me from the love of the Father on His throne
There is no power in heaven or hell
That can keep me from the love of the Father on His throne"

Satan is a good liar.  And I fell for it.  But his lies are nothing compared to my Father's love for me.  As I sat in my car driving to work this morning, like I do every morning, God joined me and filled up every inch of my car.  I got it! He gave me revelation of the love He has for me.  I'm sure I will never fully understand the depth of that love, but the glimpse I had this morning was amazing.  Tears of joy streamed down my face as I sat in His presence, in His overwhelming love.  It was a nice change from the tears of sadness lately.  I still ruined my makeup but I didn't care.

"My God's not dead, He's surely alive
He's living on the inside, roaring like a lion"

He is so crazy in love with me, like a roaring lion He ran after me, snatched me away from satan and brought me back under the shadow of His wings.  Protected by His love.  I have to do my part though.  Tomorrow I will wake up and have to fight satan away again.  Thursday too, and so on.  But, I know the end of the story.  I'm on the winning side.  I will laugh again and find joy in life.  And I am so thankful to all of my patient friends.  Please keep me in your prayers as I keep stepping forward.