While there are trials and tribulations in everyone's life, it is often a ride we do not take alone. Others that love us are also affected by all that we experience.
My walk has not always been a steady one, but I have been so blessed to have a loving family and friends that have interceded on my behalf when I did not, or could not.
I know that God's power is often shown through those that bring others to Him in intercessory prayer. Whether it has been prayer for healing of my mind, body, or soul, or for others that I dearly love.
In a world that seems to become harder to see love in, I am so blessed to have a body of believers that pray for me. Two of the staunchest supporters of mine have been my mother and my/her dear friend Ms. P.
At times when my faith waxed and waned, they have brought me before a Holy God and asked for Him to restore my faith. They have taught me about love and faith for a righteous God.
I have had the benefit of wonderful mentors who have shown me the power of prayer and of God's love. Loving the Lord is not a "solo" sport. We benefit the most when He is able to surround us with a beautiful body of believers that can lift us up before Him, even when we can't.
Over the years I have realized that through church, small groups, family, co-workers and friends, my plight has been brought before God, and He has been faithful.
Faith in God is not about attending an institution regularly every week. That should never be how we define if we are where He needs us to be in His relationship with us. Having said that, it is a very important gift that He gives us to encourage, teach and support us during many stages of our lives. We are told by the Lord "Not to forsake the assembling of ourselves"(Hebrews 10:25). There are times when He will often speak to me through others. I can be "too close to the problem" to gain a proper perspective on the issue.
One thing I have learned during my walk with the Lord is that He doesn't put a truth in the Bible that is not important for us. If He says we need to be with other believers, it is because He knows the value of these relationshipos for our own lives and our own walk with Him.
In my own life I have often been shown His wisdom and strength through His word and the truth it contains. The Bible is a universal book that has a different impact on each person, at different times. I have read the same passage at different moments in my life and derived completely different meanings from it each time. It often depends on what is happening in my life, and where I am in my reliance upon God. I know of no other book that has this ability. But this is because this is the inspired Word of God. With the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I am able to hear His voice through His Word.
I recall a moment when I read John 1:1-3 and started to understand the depth of Jesus' relationship with us and with the Father. He was there from the beginning, with God, and He was God. All things were made through Him. He is part of the Holy Trinity. I replaced the word "Word" with Jesus. Jesus is the Word.
John 1:1-3
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.
The vastness and complexity of His Word are only decipherable with the aid of the Holy Spirit. This is why His truths can become new to us each time we read them.
Even if we bring the Bible down to a level where we say "man has written it", it doesn't matter. God can use any vehicle He chooses to love us, lead us, and guide us. He can take Words and inspire us to move forward with them. We do not serve a silent God. He engages us and communicates with us through many vehicles. Through people, His Word, in the still moments of prayer, in songs.
So, I am well-equipped to make my way through this journey. I do not do it alone. I have the love and promise of an awesome God, and the prayers of His faithful servants.
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