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| Washing the feet of Judas (click to enlarge - any pic) |
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the
mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy,
acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed
to this world: but be you transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you
may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. [Rom
12:1-2] NKJV
[Updated: Addendum added: May 26, 2025. Scroll to the bottom of the article. Thank you for your patience. BP]
I was going to post something else but I reckon there is enough bad news around these days. One click will bring plenty into your space. There is no shortage of things to pray about. We just passed April 30 - May 1 [Beltane], another 'festival' celebrated by those who delight in the occult (and those who do not know better).
I grew up hearing about May Day (even in the orphanage),
a “happy day” where people of all ages, male and female, danced around a
maypole with its pretty ribbons and flowers. The memory is vague, but I
remember making “circles of flowers” (crowns) and placing them at the feet of
Mary. An adult who was tall enough put one on the statue. A step ladder was needed. The statue was about seven feet tall (a giant to a child). We (all the orphans) each grabbed a ribbon and danced around a pole.
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| Catholics honor the day and give "Mary" (Queen of heaven) false goddess with a crown of flowers [Jer 7:18; Jer 44:17-19; 25] |
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| May pole |
The ‘world’ is informed that the dancing around the pole is symbolic of celebrating spring and fertility (a new beginning), as well as 'unity' April 30 and May 1, or Beltane as it is named, is observed by pagans [some identifying as druids], Wiccans, witches, and others.
Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. for they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. [Prov 4:14-17] ESV
I only mention it here because in this year of the snake (Chinese
tradition) that many in the world honour, the witchcraft that is glorified
publicly is off the charts. The Lord warned of the last days [Matthew 24], and
we are exhorted to keep on our armour [Ephesians 6].
Much evil is presenting itself this year...and more is to come.
We are warned about the reality of spiritual warfare, our
adversaries (spiritual), our weapons, and our armour. There is also the
reality of daily fighting our carnal nature. We do not win every battle, but we
keep on keeping on because we have the precious Holy Spirit to help us. We also
have a strong Advocate and Commander-in-Chief, Jesus/Yeshua the Messiah.
Discouraged? Frustrated? Weary? Overwhelmed?
Have you ever tried to carry on like everything is copacetic and despite the shakeups that God is allowing to shake loose all the dross to purify His Body, you somehow manage to come across ‘publicly’ like you have it altogether? You feel like a hypocrite, but the earnest desire is to encourage others by reminding them that Jesus is right here for any who call upon His name - an ever present help in trouble. [Ps 46:1]
Are we really doing alright or is that just the façade that is presented? In our time with family members or close friends, have there been times of tension or little spats or blowouts, with one person or another feeling offended?
One line that kept nagging at me was similar to one found in the book of Job (a scripture that kept coming back to me) about how he could encourage others but he could not comfort himself.
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| Job's friends were "miserable comforters" |
Job called his friends “miserable comforters” because they accused him of secret sins (he must be guilty in some area that God sees but no one else does, they suggested in no uncertain terms). Why else would Job be able to exude strength, hope, and encouragement to others, but with himself there was one struggle after another?
Why did perverse, poisonous thoughts come when care is taken regarding what I watch? Unfortunately, some ads these days slip in unsavory material, but nowadays less and less is being censored -- err, unless it's "clean". THAT has more of a chance of being censored. "Truth is stranger than fiction", as the saying goes.
Why is God more silent than usual? – Even scriptures do not seem
to jump out as they had so often in past times? My heart must be more wicked than
I realize – why am I not more patient? I cannot quit: I will not quit... but I cannot bear any
more; for years I’ve said that I cannot bear more, but more keeps coming?
Ten thousand questions, thousands of thoughts, hundreds of accusations – I am careful with my words because of my fear of the Lord. I love my Father, and do not want to anger Him, well, more like grieve or disappoint Him. But He is not as emotional as us (my medication makes me more emotional, which bothers me).
Just one thing after another. I love Jesus. He has done so much for me, always been there, do I seem ungrateful because I am not? My gratitude runs deep--eternally grateful for His mercy, love, grace, and patience, such patience.
Back and forth the thoughts zing by -- have I lost my
sanity? Is this how it ends? What does unbelief look like? Am I in unbelief or
just weary from the constant, never-ending battle? How do I run – run from
self-pity? Help me hold fast to the cross and not get down off it. I cannot do
this without You, Lord – nor do I want to…
I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me. [Phil 4:13] KJV
Shake the Dust?
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| shake the dust |
The world has watched … and stayed away. You hear people speak of love and forgiveness, but for some it does not go past their lips; it is not from their heart. Yet, with their pearly charismatic smiles and magnetic personalities, these double-standard folks are extremely convincing.
We all make mistakes and have regrets. We repent. We allow the Lord to correct us, work with us (the Holy Spirit does work with us, like a "life" coach). He guides us through the Word of God, through godly teachers, even speaking to us through a child at times (or a donkey, if need be)
Do you remember the scripture that says (in days coming) there will be those who kill you and will believe they are doing God a service? Well, there will be those who shun or reject you, and believe they are doing the Body of Christ a favour.
They are "discerning" and "helping" God by sparing the flock from contamination or from 'Lord only knows' what (??), but they never have the courage to face the person and say why you were shunned.
Is it because you do not agree with a 'flat earth', or 'glory tunnels', or appearing in 'heavenly courts', or warn that "energy healing" is New Age? Is it because one stands firm against fornication and adultery [having been guilty of both at one time in my life], and how it is not still wrong in God's eyes?
[NOTE:* This part added May 29.2025: Due to something that recently came up. It seems there is now more division over the Word of God, where people will even slam the door in your face (spiritually) if you disagree (my disagreement is not done in a judgmental way, but in a "what I understand the Word to mean" kind of way).
I was always taught:
[1] fornication: sex outside of marriage between two unmarried people
[2] adultery: sex between two people when one or both are married
It is written:
Flee fornication. Every sin that a man does is without the body; but he that commits fornication sins against his own body. What? know you not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? [1Cor 6:18-19]
Now, there are Christians who say that fornication is not wrong if two people live together and plan to stay together as a married couple. Well, that sounds great, but there is no guarantee that they will stay together. Look at the statistics on divorce. When people marry, they do not plan divorce - is my point.
People are accepting common law, saying even the government recognize common law as legal. Would this be the same government that accepts same-sex marriage, and is now allowing some forms of bestiality?
The topic was brought up because it was happening in a home where Friday night sabbath meetings were happening, with dinner, then worship, prayers, and Bible study or discussion. Was it proper? A pig also lived in the house. Yes, a four-legged kind.
It is difficult to get my head around. Since Covid-19, what? Are we even set apart anymore? It just seems like we are being told all previous teachings on fornication and sex outside of marriage are wrong.;
In the past, I was guilty of both fornication (sex outside of marriage) and adultery (once - but even adultery with an ex-boyfriend one time is still a sin). So, there is no 'holier-than-thou' attitude.
When we repent, we turn away from such sins, determined to never go back to repeat them. My heart is to help others (as surely as others have helped me). That is what we are to do. That is my understanding.
I thank God for the strength to overcome, but I have not arrived at perfection. I must daily watch myself against sin, an attitude, or mishandling a situation. Sometimes I have made mistakes in judgment, but I cannot see going against thh we cannot compromise just so as not to 'offend' someone. I will not compromise - the Lord showed extraordinary patience with me.
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| Parable of the barren fig tree [Lk 13:6-9] |
Like the man who owned a vineyard with one tree that showed no real fruit. He was ready to chop it down and burn it, but the vinedresser pleaded with the owner, asking for one year to dig around the roots, throw some dung on it, water it - one year. He knew he could get the tree to produce fruit if he had one-on-one time with it, to work with it.
Do you hear the Vinedresser calling you to one-on-one time (abiding in Him, and He in you), calling for an intimate (close) time?
There is no such thing as a perfect Christian. Only Jesus was perfect, and He was not a Christian (Christ follower), He IS the CHRIST (Anointed One). We are all learning and growing. This is a deep subject, too deep for here and now.
I surely do not have all the answers, none of us do, but there sure are some good, godly men teaching the true doctrine, so we learn to work as one unit under ONE Head (Jesus/Yeshua). Ah, my apologies, I have so much on my mind, and my heart is the Lord, and the family of God - and the lost.
We cannot be everywhere, or involved in everything. A person can go crazy with all the leaders telling us to take a stand here and to take a stand there or else we are "hiding" behind our computers. I love the true brethren, the spiritual warriors standing up and warning people about the wolves and other dangers.
But please, don't get your knickers in a fisherman's bend knot trying to please everyone. We cannot do it - there will always be someone who is against us -for some reason.
70 x 7 – some do not sin as much as us. Surely, I am the shameful publican that they must put up with…they never sinned as badly as I have, so they must shake the dust.
Shake the dust? That is to be an action for those who will
not receive the truth or the message of the gospel. It is meant for those who
reject the news they preach of Christ…it is astounding how people take things
out of context to suit their thoughts or way.
May God help us all…
If one ventures a word with you, will you be impatient?
Yet who can keep from speaking? Behold, you have instructed many, and you have
strengthened the weak hands, Your words have upheld him was stumbling, and you
have made firm the feeble knees.
But now it has come to you, and you are impatient; it
touches you, and you are dismayed. Is not your fear of God your confidence, and
the integrity of your ways your hope? [Job 4:2-6] ESV
Accountable and Responsible
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| click to enlarge |
I have a couple of close friends, sisters in Christ that I am so very grateful for. Some things might take me a tad longer share with my friends than other things, especially if I am not pleased with my behaviour, or if I think I am being too self-focused.
Inspirational
One of my dearest and closest friend that I strive to be accountable and responsible with (she may not realize she has been tagged with that job lol) sent me a link to a video [Grace Prayer ] that is so inspirational that I played it at least three times in a row [Thank you, my beloved friend and sister in Christ - BP]
Literally hours were spent throughout the night and into the next
morning, stopping and starting the video to get the transcript. When I was just
about done the first section (about six hours into it), I noticed that
the YouTube channel owner had already provided the transcript. (A pulling-out-hair
moment lol)
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| tell me it isn't so... |
I was blessed. It seemed like many of the thoughts and questions and “more” could relate to, so much. It blessed my friend as well, which she hoped would do the same for me. Well, it did. It seemed like Jesus had heard every thought, listened to every prayer, caught every tear, understood every frustration.
It seemed He knew the aloneness, the sense of abandonment
and rejection, the battle-weary mind that does not know how to rest, how to
stop battling long enough to rest. I just know that I know that I know that
others are going to need the same uplifting.
When all is said and done, I will comment on it. Once the shock and the joy of “Wow, someone understands” – once the video had been played enough, and the novelty wore off, I was able to sort out things – as well as notice other things.
Praise Jesus for sending the Holy Spirt. He is with us every step of the way…every step, even in the silence.
Below the transcript begins. Click the title to connect to the video to read along with the narrator.
Video link sent to me from Donna L. – May 20, 2025
Don’t Quit Before God Moves – by GracePrayer
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| too close to quit |
Have you ever noticed how temptation to quit often shows up right
before the breakthrough? Not at the beginning when you’re excited and full of
vision; not in the middle, when you’re still holding on, but right at the edge when
the finish line is near, when the prayer is almost answered, when the door is about
to swing open.
That’s when fatigue whispers louder. That’s when the silence from heaven feels heavier; that’s when giving up feels like relief, but it’s actually robbery. I know because I have been there as I’ve been. I almost let go of what I had prayed for simply because it took longer than I expected; moments I convinced myself that maybe it wasn’t meant to be, that maybe the delay was a denial.
But in those very moments, something deep in me would rise and whisper, “Don’t quit before God moves!” And every time I felt that battle, I’d go back to these three scriptures, [which were] my anchors when I want to run; my strength when I feel stuck.
Galatians 6:9
Let us not become weary in doing good: for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. NIV
(This was the version used in the video. I do not care for the NIV
translation.)
And let us not
be weary in well doing: for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not. KJV
Let this truth settle into your spirit. We will reap if we
do not give up. This verse isn’t passive encouragement. It’s an urgent promise
wrapped in instruction. The phrase, “do not become weary” implies that weariness
will come. It’s part of the journey.
Doing good often feels thankless, slow, and invisible. You
serve faithfully, love sacrificially, give generously, and yet see little
return. You wonder if heaven noticed, but the promise still stands. At the
proper time, a moment marked by God, not man, you will reap. But notice the
weight of the condition, if you do not give up, that’s the hinge. That’s the
turning point.
This verse doesn’t just promise harvest, it demands
endurance. Because the greatest breakthroughs are often just beyond the
temptation to quit. God isn’t trying to wear you out. He’s growing your roots,
so the harvest won’t destroy you.
And if you are on the verge of quitting, this just might be
the sign. Keep sowing. Keep loving. Keep praying. The harvest is real, but so
is the test to reach it. There is divine timing in everything God does. When we
sow into His timing, we reap more than we ever imagined.
We don’t just receive the harvest. We become changed by it –
transformed, strengthened, steadied because in the delay, we learn faith that
isn’t shallow. We learn to love without applause. We serve without spotlight.
We grow up in the hidden place where God cultivates the kind
of endurance that can carry real glory. Waiting is like farming in drought. You
dig in dry ground; you water what doesn’t grow. You wake up in the same parched
landscape.
And yet, the farmer doesn’t walk away. Why? Because he knows something is happening beneath the soil. Roots are reaching deeper. Seeds are maturing in secret; the rain will come, and when it does, the field will respond.
That’s how spiritual harvest works; it looks dead right
before it bursts to life.
Psalm 27:14
Wait on the Lord: be of good courage,
and He shall strengthen your heart: wait, I say, on
the Lord. NKJV
David repeats himself, not because he ran out of ideas but
because he knew we would forget. Waiting is one if the hardest spiritual
disciplines because it often looks like nothing is happening, but this psalm
reframes waiting – not as delay, but as a training ground for courage.
Wait for the Lord. This isn’t a passive suggestion. It is a
spiritual invitation to slow down and synchronize with God’s movement. To choose
trust over panic, to believe that God is still writing when we see nothing on
the page. Be strong and take heart.
David isn’t telling us to muster up fake optimism. He is
saying, while you wait, fortify your heart, strengthen your grip on faith.
Remind your soul that delay is not denial because in the waiting, God does some
of His deepest work, not just in our circumstances, but in our character.
This kind of waiting is active. It sharpens discernment. It
burns away hurry and pride. It breaks the illusion that we are in control and
anchors us in the reality that God is enough, even when the answer hasn’t come
yet.
So, wait! Not because you are stuck, but because you trust.
Wait with anticipation, not apathy. Wait because you know that what God is
building in the dark will stand in the light. Waiting isn’t passive; it’s
pressure that produces power like a cocoon for a butterfly – the place of
waiting may feel restrictive but it’s where transformation happens.
If you cut short the process you weaken the wings, but if
you wait it through what emerges can fly. God doesn’t waste waiting. He weaves
purpose into it, layer by layer, until the promise has the weight to stand.
Isaiah 40:31
But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
This isn’t just a
comforting verse, it’s a revelation of how God sustains His people. Those who
wait on the Lord implies a posture of leaning in, not stepping back, of
expectation, not resignation.
To wait here is to
intertwine your heart with His, to wrap your weakness around His strength. It’s
not sitting back hoping, it’s leaning in with trust. “Shall renew
their strength” isn’t just poetic, it’s practical. It means that while the
situation might not change immediately, you will.
The Hebrew word
for “renew” literally means to “exchange”.
You ‘trade’
your ‘exhaustion’ for His ‘endurance’,
*- your ‘confusion’
for His ‘clarity’,
*- your ‘weakness’
for His ‘might’.
And it doesn’t
stop there! Isaiah goes on to describe those who wait as ones who soar
like eagles, run without growing weary, and walk
and not faint. That is supernatural strength. That’s not hustle; that’s heaven
helping you move forward when logic says you should collapse.
The image of
soaring like an eagle is not accidental. Eagles rise by NOT flapping but
by waiting for the wind when they spread their wings and catch
the current, they are lifted without effort. That is what God promises you when
you wait, not strength that burns out, but strength that carries you.
It’s not about
striving harder it is about being sustained by grace. Sometimes God does not immediately
change the situation because He is using the situation to change us. That new
strength promised in Isaiah isn’t just about surviving what is hard, it’s about
becoming someone unshakable.
Someone who doesn’t
just ask for breakthroughs but embodies it. Someone whose faith outlasts
frustration. If you’ve felt like you can’t keep going, maybe God is inviting
you to stop trying in our own power.
Wait on Him, and let Him be the strength you no longer have.
This morning, I
don’t know what you have been tempted to quit. I don’t know where you feel
delayed, disappointed or done, but I DO know this. God moves in
His time and His time is always right. If you let go now, you might never know
what was on the other side of your surrender. So, before you walk away …
breathe!
Before you call it
closed, revisit what God opened. Before you say, “I can’t!”, remember
the One who can. You’re closer than you think. The ground under your feet might
feel dry, but the clouds are gathering, the sky is changing. The shift is
coming.
If I may add this.
What if today isn’t just another hard day? What if today is the hinge that
opens the door you’ve been knocking on? What if your obedience in the dark is
creating momentum in the spirit that you will only see in the light?
Sometimes the
greatest evidence for breakthrough isn’t the answer showing up, it is the strength
you found while still waiting, the moments you didn’t quit, the prayers
whispered when no one was watching. That’s growth – that’s God!
That’s the kind of
faith that moves mountains, even when the mountains still stand. So, don’t just
wait – wait with expectation, wait with fire in your belly and stillness in
your soul. Wait like someone who knows that God hasn’t forgotten.
Wait like someone
who trusts that the same God who made the promise will also fulfil it. While you
wait, worship. While you wait, be faithful. While you wait, be like the answer
is already on it way. Don’t quit before God moves.
===============
May 21, 2025
[This is still the transcript from the Don't Quit video ...rather like part two (2)]
Good morning, Lord. I want to begin this prayer, not with polished words, but with raw truth. So here it is. I’ve considered quitting, more than once. I’ve thought about laying everything down, not because I lost faith in who You are, but because I’m exhausted.
Its not the kind
of tired that sleep can fix, but the kind that sits in the bones of the soul,
the kind that signs in silence when no one is around; the kind that doesn’t doubt
You, but the kind that wonders if I’ve somehow missed You.
Last week I sat on
the edge of my bed long after midnight. The room was quiet but my heart was
loud with questions. I looked up to the ceiling, at nothing in particular and whispered,
“Is any of this even working?” [not out of rebellion but out of
weariness]
I wasn’t angry; I
was empty. I’ve prayed the prayers – I’ve waited the months. I’ve been obedient
even when it was costly. And still, I feel stuck between the promise and the
fulfilment, between what you said, and what I see. But here’s the truth, Lord.
I didn’t quit… I didn’t walk away.
I’m still here,
still bringing you my tired ‘hallelujah’. Still holding the line of hope,
even when my grip is weak…because deep down, in the quietest part of me
something believes You’re not done, that this ache isn’t the end; it’s the
invitation – the stretch before the shift, the pressure before the release.
So, here I am
again, offering You my weary, waiting heart. Strengthen me where hope has been leaking.
Reinforce my spirit where it feels thin. Be the arms that hold me when I can’t
hold myself together.
I confess that
frustration has tangled around my thoughts, and disappointment has tried to
speak louder than Your Word, but I won’t hand over my faith to feelings.
I choose TRUST,
even in the mystery. I refuse to curse this delay. I will declare Your GOODNESS
inside it. I refuse to let silence define Your presence. I know You are the
God who whispers in stillness, the One who works in hidden places.
So, give me ears
to hear what My eyes cannot yet see. Teach me to trace Your fingerprints even
in the unseen. Bring back to mind every moment You proved Yourself faithful;
every time You answered quietly but completely.
Let memory become
the fuel that feeds my present faith. Let history with you silence the lies of
the enemy that say you’ve walked away, and when quitting feels logical, anchor
me in Your Word, anchor me in what You’ve already spoken.
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| anchored in truth - which is the WORD of El Shaddai [God Almighty] click to enlarge |
Anchor me in the truth that my life is not built on shifting sand, but on the Rock that doesn’t move. You have never failed me (Lord), and I know You are not starting now. Keep me steady, Lord…when impatience knocks.
Keep me humble
when pride wants answers. Keep me near when distance feels easier. Don’t let me
walk away from the edge of breakthrough because my emotions screamed louder
than my convictions.
I lay my timeline
at Your feet again, every expectation, every silent cry, every unopened door. Every
day I woke up hoping today would be the day. You’ve caught every tear, numbered
every sigh and written every day before I lived it – that includes this one. So,
I choose to believe that this season is not wasted, that You’re building
something deeper than I know.
Turn my waiting
into worship. Let my delay become a devotion. Let these long nights form an
unshakable depth in me. Make me strong in stillness, rooted in faith, anchored
in trust. Use this time not to frustrate me, but to forge me. Make me stubborn,
not in pride, but in belief.
Let me hold fast
to what You’ve promised even when the ground feels shaky. Let my mouth speak
life even when my flesh wants to groan. Let me be found faithful in the
waiting, not just victorious in the receiving.
And above all,
thank You. Thank You for not giving up on me, for staying near when I couldn’t
feel it, for defending me in the spirit when I didn’t know I was under attack,
for sustaining me with unseen grace that showed up in the form of peace when I
should have fallen apart.
For sending this
very moment as a reminder that you still see me. I’m not quitting today. I’m
pressing in. I’m not walking away (Lord). I’m leaning closer. I’m not giving
up. I’m giving you ALL of me… again.
Lord, sometimes
the promise feels so far that I forgot why I started. I forget the fire that
once burned when I first heard Your voice. The wide-eyed wonder that dared to
dream boldly with You. I forget the excitement of childlike faith, the joyful
expectancy that made each day feel like it carried a hidden miracle.
I forget that you
often grow what matters most in hidden places – places that seem like silence,
but are sacred workshops of heaven. So, before I ask for answers, give me a new
lens, a holy lens.
Let me see not just what I’m waiting for, but
what this waiting is doing inside me. Let me recognize how You use time not to
torment but to transform. Open my heart to the beauty of your process, not just
the promise. Remind me that waiting is not passive. It’s prophetic.
It’s the fertile
space where heaven digs deep foundations so that when blessings come, they don’t
collapse under the weight of shallow roots. Open my eyes to the formation, not
just the fulfillment. Show me the beauty of becoming.
Remind me that
this waiting season isn’t punishment, it’s a preparation. You are crafting
something sacred, not just around me, but within me. You are fortifying
character realigning desires, testing my priorities and deepening my
dependence.
You are removing
things I never realized I was clinging to. You’re making sure the blessing
doesn’t arrive before I’m ready to honour it. You are not just doing something for
me, You are doing something in me.
And maybe that is
the miracle I would have missed had You moved too soon. Maybe the breakthrough
I keep praying for starts not with a door opening in front of me, but a wall
breaking within me.
Maybe the real
gift is the intimacy formed in these quiet, stretching moments. Maybe it’s the
courage that forms only in the absence of applause. Maybe it’s the kind of
faith that becomes unshakable, not through answers, but through fire.
So, I release the
demand for immediacy. I let go of the pressure to miss what You’re doing by
rushing to what I think I need. Give me the heart to value the middle, the
courage to endure the ‘not yet’, the wisdom to know that waiting
is not wasted.
It’s where
warriors are forged, not fantasies fulfilled. Let me see silence, not as
absence, but as strategy. Let me see delay not as rejection, but as divine
rearrangement. If You’re shifting things, I want to shift with You. If You are
withholding, it’s because You are preparing.
Help Me hear the
whispers between the wonders. Help me embrace the unseen spaces where roots are
sinking deep, hidden but holding future fruit. Waiting doesn’t waste time, it
multiplies purpose. It doesn’t diminish calling, it develops capacity. It matures
faith; it recalibrates what matters. It pulls me out of superficial expectation
and anchors me in eternal hope.
It forces me to
slow down enough to listen, to pay attention, to lay down idols I didn’t know I
had. It teaches me to release control and rest in the truth that you are never
in a rush because you’re never behind. Your timing is not my enemy. It is my
covering, my confirmation, and my confidence.
So, here’s my
declaration today.
I will not waste the ‘wait’, I will serve while I wait. I will forgive while I wait. I will grow while I wait. I will weep when I need to and worship while I do. I will pray bold prayers while I wait and I will praise You with empty hands, knowing You fill what’s open.
I will be found
faithful in this season not bitter, not drifting, not shrinking back. Make my
hands busy with obedience, not worry. Make my voice filled with praise, not
panic. Make my attitude an altar where Your presence can dwell.
Teach me to
rejoice before the answer comes., not as fake celebration, but as real
confidence. Confidence that the God who promised is still present, that the One
who speaks galaxies into places still leans close to hear my whisper.
Let me laugh
again, dance again, worship again, not because the battle is over, but because You
are still in it with me and You never lose. I choose to believe that breakthrough
is not just a moment. It’s a momentum. You’re already stirring.
Prepare my heart
to carry what You are releasing. Expand my spirit to receive without pride. Stretch
my patience so I don’t crack under pressure. Uproot any pride that would
sabotage the blessing. Dismantle any insecurity that would downplay what You
have called me to.
Clean out every
room in my soul so when the answer comes, it has space to settle. Let me not miss
the blessing because I chose relief over resilience. Let me not bow to the
temptation to quit just because the terrain got tough.
Keep me be rooted
when emotions try to toss me around. Anchor me in your truth when my feelings
scream lies. When impatience rises, let peace rise higher. When fear tries to
flood my mind, speak stillness over the storm.
Let me fight not
with fists, but with faith. This season isn’t just about surviving the ‘wait’,
it’s about stewarding it. It’s about receiving the deep work of grace that no
applause sees, but all of heaven celebrates.
So Lord, I steward
this moment. I steward this breath. I pour my disappointment into Your hands
and ask You to exchange it for trust. I surrender my schedule for Your
Sovereignty. I release my idea of timing for the assurance that You do all
things well, not rushed, not random, but well, I will wait with hope, not with
resentment.
I will wait with
surrender, not with suspicion. I will wait with praise, not complaint because You
are worth it. Every second, every silent day, every stretch that grows me,
every “no” that protects me; every “yes” that
reshapes me.
You are faithful
and that means even the wait is filled with Your purpose. You are not just
leading me to a place. You’re shaping me into a person, someone who doesn’t
just hold the promise, but can honour it. Someone who doesn’t just get the
blessing, but becomes a blessing.
Someone who doesn’t
just arrive at the dream, but can sustain it, protect it, multiply it…
So do it, Lord.
Refine me, prepare me. Use this waiting not to weaken me, but to awaken me, not
to delay me, but to define me. And when the moment comes, I’ll be ready, not
just to receive, but to reflect Your glory. I love You. I trust You. I wait
with You, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
============
[This is still the transcript of the Don't Quit video - part three (3)]
After that kind of
prayer, do you still want to give up? If you’re still here, reading these
words, it means there’s something inside you that knows you were born for more
than quitting. That even though the delay has been long, and the silence louder
than you ever expected, you haven’t let go.
And that
matters! It matters to your story. It
matters to your growth…and most of all, it matters to God because your
perseverance is not a sign of weakness, it’s a weapon. It’s the kind of
strength that hell can’t calculate.
And maybe the
enemy has been trying so hard to get you to give up because you’re this close
to something holy, this close to a door opening, this close to becoming someone
who doesn’t just survive disappointment, but builds altars in the middle of it.
So, let me ask
you, where have you been tempted to quit because of the delay? What dream or
promise, or assignment have you quietly put down, not because you stopped
caring, but because the silence made it feel like God did.
Let Him speak to
that place. Let Him breathe on the ashes. God hasn’t forgotten, and He
certainly hasn’t finished. Sometimes faith doesn’t feel like a shout. It feels
like showing up, like writing down one more prayer, like saying ”Amen”,
when everything inside wants to say, “I’m done.”
So, here’s your moment. Write this down. Declare it aloud.
I won’t quit before God moves.
Put
it on a sticky note, a mirror, a phone screen. Let it be your anthem. Let it
interrupt the lies. Let it preach louder than our fear because the waiting isn’t
empty.
It’s pregnant with
promise, and the God who began this good work in you will absolutely finish it.
You’re not late. You’re not forgotten. You’re not weak. You are still standing.
You are still called. You are still in the story.
Don’t walk away
too soon. Not now. Not here. Now when heaven is writing your next line. He’s
not done yet. And neither are you. If this reflection has spoken to your heart,
Let Grace Prayer know you’re still standing. I won’t quit before God moves, and
if someone you love is tired in the waiting, share this with them.
Don’t keep this
fire to yourself. This is how we stand together in faith. One prayer, one word,
one moment at a time. Thank you for being part of this journey/ Grace Prayer
exists because people like you choose to stay and because of that, we keep
going too.
[End of transcript]
Source: Grace Prayer
I found the
beginning so motivating that I watched it somewhere between three to four (3-4)
times before I decided I would like to type it out.
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| click to enlarge |
I am following up the second day after this post, and *Note*, I added more commentary on the third day, being the 27th May, 2025. It is difficult to carry on as I did 20 years ago in 2005, when I first began posting online at sporadically at random sites (the blog followed three years later in May 2008). [Where were you at 20 years ago? lol - I rest my case (warm smile).]
It is even difficult to carry on as I did two years ago, but to God be the glory that He allows me to carry on at all – He has so many treasured, stunning vessels...a new generation is arising. May the Lord guide them through this deceptive, chaotic world...
He is doing this with all His people when we lean on Him. It
does not mean that we will not have bad or rough days. That is simply part of
living in todays topsy-turvy, deceptive world, but the providence and
sovereignty of the Creator will draw His people back to rest whenever we begin
to wander. Great is His faithfulness.
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed,
because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is Your
faithfulness. [Lam 3:22-23]
Pointing to the Bible
A new generation has arrived, and may God hold the sincere ones close, and draw in the prodigals that rebelled and desired a different path. That was once me – the black sheep, the prodigal, the least likely, a wretched sinner. But Jesus – Yeshua!
Glory to the Lamb of God who takes away
the sins of the world, saved us from hell, forgives the one covered in godly
sorrow, and restores us to the Father (ONLY through Jesus the Christ –
Yeshua the Messiah).
And whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. [Col 3:17]
That scripture, or the fullness of it, is down deep in my
heart, which is why I felt the need to comment on the inspirational message
posted here in its entirely (meaning the prayer and YouTube author).
In the inspirational article, I noticed the author grounded
three scriptures into the text. It is important to link things to scripture…but
what else? That is always key, but at the same time we are to keep vigilant and guarded
because Satan also used [and still uses], but he used scripture against Jesus in his ‘desert wilderness’
temptation.
What I mean by 'against' is that Satan uses scripture out of context, or to make what he says 'appear' valid or truthful. But it is twisted, for he is a liar and the truth is not in him. He is a murderer from the beginning. [Jn 8:44]
The inspirational narrative flows in and out of biblical truths, from sowing, to praying, to overcoming temptation (in this case, the temptation to quit), to love without ‘applause’ and without ‘spotlight’. (O, I don’t think the false teachers, false Christs, false apostles, or false prophets or brethren would want to hear (never mind ‘heed’) the last advice.)
Scriptural
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| Credit--DailyVerses.net click to enlarge |
But what else does the author point to? Prayer, obedience, hope, praise, God's faithfulness, refining and "speaking stillness over the storm" which only Jesus did and does. Grace Prayer speaks of forgiving (that 'we' are to forgive - crucial that we do) and being holy. All of that is scriptural.
In another place, Grace Prayer says, "the God who began this good work in you will absolutely finish it". That is straight out of the Bible [Phil 1:6], I just used it in my last article.
The author wrote: And every time I felt that battle, I’d go back to these three scriptures, my anchors when I want to run; my strength when I feel stuck.
Yet again, the author points back to the Bible, back to the Holy Scriptures. So, even though the name Jesus or Yeshua was not constantly used or seen throughout the narrative, the context constantly inspires reflections upon the Bible and upon Jesus of the Bible. I did not discern that the author spoke of another 'bible' or another 'Jesus'. Why? Because I did not find any scripture twisted or taken out of context. If a reader does, please email me. I am not infallible, and welcome correction.
The Long, Silent Wait
The author of the video’s narrative speaks of waiting, and
also how it is the hardest discipline. That is a truth that I have often written
about myself because I have been in the waiting mode for decades.
Waiting is most certainly not easy. I sincerely believe that all of God’s children would say so because all of us have something we are waiting for, or have waited for – even if that “something” is the anticipated return of our King and Redeemer.
Again, although the name of Jesus or Yeshua, or Yahweh or El Shaddai is not used specifically in the video portion, the author points to "God" and His 'power', rather than our own power (or strength). Our strength is not even a thumbnail portion of El Shaddai's strength. [there is no comparison] At NO TIME, none, did I feel drawn 'away' from Jesus or the God of Israel. In fact, I felt more drawn to Jesus (Yeshua), to my heavenly Father.
Instead the author says: "If you’ve felt like you can’t keep going, maybe God is inviting you to stop trying in our own power. Wait on Him, and let Him be the strength you no longer have." GracePrayer [YouTube channel name]
Fear can often interfere in the wait, depending on the urgency. It may be a financial need such as a house payment or rent, especially if foreclosure or an eviction notice is pending. It may be waiting for the Lord to intervene in the life of a loved one who is in serious trouble. What if He doesn't intervene?
A loved one may be in trouble mentally, physically, or spiritually – in some kind of situation that is out of the hands of man, a situation that only God Himself can bring resolution to.
Those kinds of
situations often require patience and waiting that seems like more than we can
bear. The waiting seems like a cruelty, although it is not. When we do not
understand a matter, it makes the wait and the matter all the more difficult.
When we believe that Jesus has promised us healing (after prayer and seeking Him; I am not speaking of the prosperity gospel teaching where everyone is healed no matter what), then waiting is almost like a torture, even a punishment for something we have done in the past, or doing now that we have not clicked into. The adversary, Satan, will shoot fiery darts of these kinds of thoughts at us.
Another nugget of Grace Prayer that caused me to take notice because it seemed to echo what I had prayed to the Lord, but perhaps their prayer is more eloquent.
Grace Prayer: "Let me recognize how You use time not to torment but to transform." And also: "Keep me humble when pride wants answers."
And also: "Remind me that waiting is not passive. It’s prophetic. Remind me that this waiting season isn’t punishment, it’s a preparation. You are not just doing something for me, You are doing something in me."
I know that there were times in this waiting (especially on days when the physical pain was at an all-time high, and challenges in every other area were presenting themselves also), I wondered if I was being punished (as stated, wondering if some past sin was not repented of, or if some sin was hiding in a crevice in my heart).
Even thinking those thoughts, I wonder if the WOlF (Word Of Faith) still comes around to tempt me into condemnation. Because that is where I first even heard of such a thing.
"Not healed"? "Must be a secret sin you are hiding." "You can fool the people, but you cannot fool God." Financial ruin? "Must not have given enough - reap and sow." All those fiery darts come from one of the doctrines of devils [WOlF]; they are lies from the adversary.
The enemy, Satan, is always accusing God's people. We can be assured that if we are sinning, we most likely know it. Yet, if by some chance we are unaware we are sinning, the Holy Spirit will open our eyes to it and convict us.
We may be idolizing someone (a friend, our children, a spouse) and may be unaware that is what we are doing. The Holy Spirit will reveal it to us, not in a condemning way, but in a manner that convicts because God wants us to be free from captivity in any form. bis still uncomfortable. You still will not like conviction.
Condemnation brings shame and guilt; it will crush you, leave you hopeless. Conviction brings godly sorrow and leads you to turn away from sin and turn toward repentance, where you are forgiven by Jesus - hope is restored in Christ!
Is that not something, brethren, or is it just me? I never considering asking for answers as pride. Is it? Does humility simply wait, without asking questions? I am torn on that one because of all the people in the Bible that did ask questions of God, such as Gideon (in fact, he asked for three (3) signs [fleece])
Please understand that I do realize that it depends on the questions because some will reveal that we are not trusting God. But many godly people have asked questions and it has not come across as pride, nor has the Lord chastened or chastised them as a result.
If the questions are due to unbelief, I think actions result as well. Like when Yahweh asked Moses how long Israel would murmur against Him, and not believe Him.
Yet when David asked how long the Lord would hide Himself [Ps 89:46] or when he asked how long the wicked would triumph? [Ps 94:3]
So, I am not convinced that asked the Lord questions or asking for a sign is wrong, or prideful? I do know that it is wrong to ask for a sign in order to "believe Jesus is the Messiah" or ask for a 'sign' in order to believe the Bible. Yeshua said the generation that asks for a sign that the Word is real.
The 'sign of Jonah' (three days and three nights in the belly of a big fish) being the sign, paralleling the Jesus' three days and three night in the grave before the Holy Spirit resurrected Him.
The first sign was Gideon needed to know God (Yahweh) was indeed going to deliver the Midianites into Israel's hands (conquered). Gideon also had to be assured of Yahweh's presence.
 |
| asked for a sign with fleece, two times Judges 6:37-40 |
Then came the two signs with the fleece that we are all familiar with. First, Gideon wanted to see the fleece wet and the ground dry. With the second request, Gideon flipped it. He desired to see the fleece dry and the ground wet.
Perhaps it is in the way one asks, but I see asking God questions not as a sign of pride, but as a child that trusts. It may be the tone...I have said to my own children, it is not what you ask, it is how you ask it (typically meaning tone and attitude - the heart condition showing).
I like how Grace Prayer mentions idols, something I have been searching my own self for. I want no part of idols, especially the kind that are not obvious. Grace Prayer said, (about waiting):
"It forces me to slow down enough to listen, to pay attention, to lay down idols." True. None of us want idols, whether a spouse, children, the cell phone, or social media or a computer, or an entertainer, a job (career), a hobby- or whatever!
The wait is long and silent…who can you tell that you can hardly bear up with the waiting that seems never-ending?
Some might try to accuse a person of a ‘lack of faith’ or
of a secret sin lurking in the shadows, but the person who knows in
their own heart that is not true {and are not deceived or in denial),
still might struggle with doubts as to why the answer or cure is so long in
coming. Doubts are abruptly swept aside by them before unbelief slips in covertly.
There are many people today that believe the reason they are
not healed is because of the lie that they lack enough faith or harbour some secret
sin. Is it possible that it is true [secret sin] for some people?
Absolutely. It seems like nearly every other week or month this past year or two, some scandal makes the headlines and taints the reputation of the church, making a mockery of sincere believers and their faith.
Nevertheless, it is eager expectation that catapults thoughtful
prayers like the one that followed the initial body of the video. Many will be
able to relate to the video, such as my friend and I did because it is reality.
There is no such thing as super-Christians, but there is
such a thing as strong Christians who draw strength from the Lord in their weak
moments. However, we are told to encourage each other, comfort and edify one another.
[1Thes5:11]
We are to take notice of those who labour amongst us, and love them for their work’s sake. We are to be at peace among each other.
So, we follow the context as we read. I did not see anything
that goes against the Bible, or against God’s character, or the character of
Jesus, or the Holy Spirit. Perhaps one could mention that there is only ONE way
back to God, which is through Jesus/Yeshua, and many other things.
ADDED Thought: In the prayer itself, it only says the name of Jesus at the end. The prayer itself does not mention Jesus' name. I see nothing wrong with that, as I have often prayed prayers but most assuredly at the end say, "in Jesus' name".
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him. [Col 3:17]
Grace Prayer did do that.
But God can use anything and anyone to draw people and I think this video is a good start. Thank you for sharing the link my friend, Donna L. The Lord bless, keep and guide you.
Grace Prayer encouraged with this: And that matters! It matters to your story. It matters to your growth…and most of all, it matters to God because your perseverance is not a sign of weakness, it’s a weapon. It’s the kind of strength that hell can’t calculate.
This was also appreciated because I actually did thank the Lord for not giving up on me and for being my defense. I also thanked Him for showing me when I was in a battle and did not know it, blaming the world or myself instead.
However, I like how the author put it:
Grace Prayer: "And above all, thank You. Thank You for not giving up on me, for staying near when I couldn’t feel it, for defending me in the spirit when I didn’t know I was under attack, for sustaining me with unseen grace that showed up in the form of peace when I should have fallen apart."
And these three things:
"I confess that frustration has tangled around my thoughts, and disappointment has tried to speak louder than Your Word, but I won’t hand over my faith to feelings."
"Let my mouth speak life even
when my flesh wants to groan. Let me be found faithful in the waiting, not
just victorious in the receiving."
And last but not least, this:
"I choose trust, even in the mystery. I refuse to curse this delay. I will declare Your goodness inside it. I refuse to let silence define Your presence. I know You are the God who whispers in stillness, the One who works in hidden places." Grace Prayer
I could say more on this, but I think what I said suffices
it for now. This video is a good stepping stone and a great encouragement, full of treasured nuggets of wisdom. May it bless each viewer
and reader, and may Christ Jesus (Yeshua Messiah) be glorified.
Most certainly it is food for thought, "chicken soup for the soul" (someone wrote a book called that once), and an opportunity to again thank God who orders all our steps, leading us in the way that we should go, and who reminds us that He is still on the throne. We can trust that all is well and that He will see us through if we faint not...but continue in faith, hope, and love - trusting Him.
Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ [Titus 2:13]
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