Beloved, understand that most of our valley experiences and feelings of despair will require an aggressive spiritual warfare in which we must play the position of  offense and force the enemy into an unexpected and unplanned role of defense. We know that, as His people, God has already not only given us the victory  but even denied Satan a rule book for the game.  However, if we dare lose our focus on the battlefield, we risk allowing our faith to become a POW or Prisoner of War. This is a story of how my own faith has fallen away at times and how God has given me victory by returning faith that I could not find!  Faith is the key to victory over every issue and concern in our lives and each time mine has been tried, it has become stronger.

 As you begin to follow my journey,  you will see that this is not simply the story of Lisa, but  a Glory Story written by God! I promise you an unforgettable and life altering chance to see His awesome power of healing, undying love, forgiveness and restoration as it takes place in my life and is waits to take place in your own as well. None of my circumstances have been to the death nor have those of my loved ones.  I encourage you, as you witness my journey each week, to begin speaking life into the some of your own situations that you may have believed dead.  I assure you that, through your faith, they will either come back to life or wake from the sleep that has now restored them. Speak to them as Jesus did to the the daughter of Jarius who all believed to be dead.  “Talitha Cumi...Damsel I say unto the, arise” Mark 5:41

 Having given you the basis for this week’s title,  I need to tell you that I do  not believe that I could find anyone  one more qualified than I to sit down and let God know just how hard it sometimes is for many of us to remember where we have placed our treasured boxes of faith. This little memory loss usually occurs just when we need faith the most. Ultimately, a time will come to each of us when we believe that our own personal storm has finally had its way and we have been consumed in its eye. Our treasured box of faith, the faith we once believed that we simply be misplaced,  now seems forever lost. We have found ourselves captive in the rage and wrath of the whirling winds and pounding rains. Desperately, we long for a touch of faith. Our hearts yearn for what we once took for granted and  even knowing that it was our only means of survival. We regretfully wish that we had walked, talked and relied on our faith while it was within our reach.

 Consequently, because we relied on ourselves instead,  we are now alone in an unloving place just when our hearts have finally cried out to be cared for. Our bodies are thrown to and fro by by winds of such evil force that they refuse to allow us to stand. Instead, they knock us back off of our feet denying us even the use of our own body members. In defeat, we tuck our heads into our own arms and prepare for the deadly blow that will end the storm.  Before doing so, we  take one final look at where our own will has brought us.  That is when darkness chooses to be revealed.  It is a heavy weight and dense atmosphere through which our eyes are unable to see. We find ourselves powerless to use the gift of sight so loving given to us by the God of our Salvation.  The gift of sight that could allow us to find our way to safety.

“And He arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace be still. and the wind ceased, and there was great calm. And he said unto them, why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?” Mark 4:39-40

I believe that when we, as the disciples once did, find ourselves in the middle of the storm it is because we have misused the permissive will that God gives us all. God loves us.  Whether it is a battle of Spiritual Warfare against the enemy of our lives or the situations that arise as suddenly and dangerously as an unexpected hurricane across our terrain that we face, His wish is that we shall live eternally and not perish.  That we live life and live abundantly.  Yet, He loves us so much that He gives us a choice.  It is a simple choice of two options: Obey the word and choose life or obey ourselves and risk the consequences.   If  God actually appeared in the midst of many of my own self created storms, I have no idea how I would explain that I simply lost my box of faith.  If He asked what door I had left open tin my life that any demonic force would dare enter , how could I explain to Him that I put my box of faith down for a fleeting moment? How would I ever tell Him that I mistreated the gift that gave me power of life over death?

I thank God for the blessing of  allowing me to see, often through the flawed attempts to navigate my own way through life, that not only does faith bring life, but also victory over the circumstances that concern us. Allow God to prove to you that He will reward your faith with the gifts of freedom and peace.  When we surrender our will to God in faithful obedience,  we no longer endure the weight of governing our our own lives. Nor will we anxiously contemplate the consequences for errors we will undoubtedly commit when we try to do God’s job for God.  The weight of governing lives is just too heavy for us. God wants to carry our weights and burdens. He is more concerned about our the affairs of our hearts than we could ever conceive.  His love has no boundaries and He is at the door, loving arms stretched out, waiting for us to place our lives into them.  He will care for them tenderly, patiently and with the wisdom that only He possesses.

 Stop carrying your own weight along with the weight of the loved ones that you have prayed for throughout the years.  Now, pray a new prayer, one with FAITH AND EXPECTATION that God will fulfill His promises to us all. Remember that when we continue to cast our cares upon Him only to pick them up again, we are interfering in the divine healing process of the Master.   It is He that is omnipotent and not we ourselves.  Pray daily that He will release all of us from this cycle that will never produce good fruit but WILL delay restoration and new life.

 Finally, if you are able to read these words right now, just reflect on the fact that your past challenges and valley situations were not unto death.  Neither were mine. So speak life into every situation that you may think is dead and watch God.  Speak it in faith and then know you are no longer bound.  Having done that stretch out in faith and..KNOW THAT YOUR MORNING HAS COME!!  IT IS TIME TO ARISE!!!!

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