Don’t Despise the Asses

Over the years I’ve thought about the life of Joseph. We can all take some comfort from his tests and trials, because they were not the end of Joseph’s story, but rather the beginning.

Joseph certainly had some spectacularly amazing opportunities to abandon or to reject what God had shown him about his future. I wonder if Joseph recognised that the trials and tests that came were not detours away from what God had shown him—but instead stepping-stones toward it?

Not long ago I was driving somewhere when I decided to stop at a local cafe to get a bite to eat. When I arrived, there were no available car parks anywhere in the street—not one! As I drove to the top of the crowded street and turned around to make my way back down the street again, a single car pulled out of a spot, just as I was approaching. Immediately I heard these words:

“Sometimes you need to go around the block before your place is ready”.

Joseph went around the block a few times (Gen. 37-41). As I am writing this, I can almost see some of you—faceless and nameless—yet I see you. For some of you it has been a long and difficult road and you are wondering why. The plans and purposes of God are not thwarted just because it feels like you’re in a holding pattern, waiting to land! You’ve not been forgotten. These are the times to draw near to Him and feel His heart for you and hear His voice!

Before Saul ever knew God had prepared a place for him as the first King of Israel, he found himself on a journey that he did not expect he’d have to take. (Here’s where the asses in the title of this message take centre stage!)

Saul’s father (Kish) owned some donkeys that went missing one day. Kish sent his son Saul out with a servant to find the donkeys. They travelled for 3 days from town to town and through the hill country of Ephraim. At each place they arrived (hopeful they would find the lost donkeys), “they found them not”. Was Saul getting weary of this journey? Yes! Did it appear to be a fruitless, failed effort? Yes! So much so that on the third day Saul said to the servant: “Come, let’s go back (home), or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us.” (1 Sam.9:5)

I’m sure Saul would have looked at the situation very differently had he realised that this was to be the most important journey of his life! You see, it was not a detour—it was a stepping-stone.

But here’s the irony of it all: it was those few lost donkeys that God used to bring Saul face to face with the prophet Samuel for the first time. A detour that was not a detour after all! There was purpose in the inconvenience.

(Note: King Saul did eventually mess things up, quite royally (pardon the pun), but that doesn’t take away from the truths found in his story.)

Just when Saul was about to give up and return home to his father, he ran into the prophet Samuel (quite literally) at the gates of the very last town he entered on his search for those annoying donkeys.

Saul asks Samuel about the lost donkeys. Saul was preoccupied with getting back what had been lost (or stolen). But I love Samuel’s response: “As for the donkeys… do not worry about them; they have been found” (1 Sam. 9:20). There was a greater purpose to Saul’s 3 lost days chasing donkeys than Saul was aware. Trust God to bring about His purposes for your life—in, through and despite those inconvenient places and difficult seasons.

Worrying about what we can’t control (or what might not be ours to control) can distract from what God has put right in front of us.

Saul did not recognise that he was not in that town because of some missing donkeys—he was there to step into his place as the first King of Israel.

God brought Saul to a divine appointment! Before Saul had even arrived in town, God had set up a meeting between him and God’s prophet—Samuel:

About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin. Anoint him ruler over my people Israel; he will deliver them from the hand of the Philistines…

1 Samuel 9:15-16 (NIV)

Sometimes we can go through difficult times where we feel like God doesn’t even know we are in town. Yes He does! Don’t whine about the lost donkeys—they really might be far more necessary than you think.

God Himself had set something aside for Saul—He had reserved Saul’s portion ahead of time. Thank God for a few lost donkeys!

“…Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it apart.‘ ” So the cook took up the thigh with its upper part and set it before Saul. And said, “Here it is, what was kept back. It was set apart for you. Eat; for until this time it has been kept for you…” And Saul dined with Samuel that day.

1 Samuel 9:23-24 (NIV)

What amazing things your Heavenly Father has prepared for you to walk in and reserved for you ahead of time. Remain faithful where you are, and let God move you, at the right time, into those good things. So don’t despise the lost asses—they might just be leading you to God’s prepared place for you.

Tracey Pekkanen

Psalm 139

He knows everything about you. You are never out of God’s sight. His desire is always for your good, and He knows all too well how to bring together what’s missing or lacking so that your life reflects more perfectly His glory and His purpose.

1 Lord, you know everything there is to know about me.
2 You perceive every movement of my heart and soul,
and you understand my every thought
before it even enters my mind.
3–4 You are so intimately aware of me, Lord.
You read my heart like an open book
and you know all the words I’m about to speak
before I even start a sentence!
You know every step I will take
before my journey even begins.
5 You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way,
and in kindness you follow behind me
to spare me from the harm of my past. 
With your hand of love upon my life, 
you impart a blessing to me.
6 This is just too wonderful, deep, and incomprehensible!
Your understanding of me
brings me wonder and strength.
7 Where could I go from your Spirit?
Where could I run and hide from your face?
8 If I go up to heaven, you’re there!
If I go down to the realm of the dead, you’re there too!
9 If I fly with wings into the shining dawn, you’re there!
If I fly into the radiant sunset, you’re there waiting!
10 Wherever I go, your hand will guide me;
your strength will empower me.
11 It’s impossible to disappear from you 
or to ask the darkness to hide me, 
for your presence is everywhere,
bringing light into my night.
12 There is no such thing as darkness with you. 
The night, to you, is as bright as the day; 
there’s no difference between the two.
13 You formed my innermost being,
shaping my delicate inside and my intricate outside, 
and wove them all together in my mother’s womb.
14 I thank you, God, for making me so mysteriously complex!
Everything you do is marvelously breathtaking. 
It simply amazes me to think about it!
How thoroughly you know me, Lord!
15 You even formed every bone in my body 
when you created me in the secret place,
carefully, skilfully shaping me from nothing to something.
16 You saw who you created me to be
before I became me!
Before I’d ever seen the light of day,
the number of days you planned for me
were already recorded in your book.
17–18 Every single moment you are thinking of me!
How precious and wonderful to consider
that you cherish me constantly in your every thought!
O God, your desires toward me are more 
than the grains of sand on every shore! 
When I awake each morning, you’re still with me.
19 O God, come and slay these bloodthirsty, murderous men!
For I cry out, “Depart from me, you wicked ones!”
20 See how they blaspheme your sacred name 
and lift up themselves against you, but all in vain!
21 Lord, can’t you see how I despise those who despise you?
For I grieve when I see them rise up against you.
22 I have nothing but complete hatred and disgust for them.
Your enemies shall be my enemies!
23 God, I invite your searching gaze into my heart.
Examine me through and through;
find out everything that may be hidden within me. 
Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares.
24 See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on,
and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting ways—
the path that brings me back to you.

The Passion Translation

Thoughts and Imaginations

Your imagination is your preview of life’s coming attractions.

—Albert Einstein

What a gift God has given us to be able to imagine and see into the realm of possibility.

As a young child, I was a dreamer—imagining far-away fantastical places where adventure awaited. I would look up at a rainbow that adorned the sky with its colour and light, and wonder what lay beyond it. I’m still a dreamer—imagining new adventures in God that project into my future.

Imagination

The act or power of forming new ideas, images and concepts not yet present to the senses.

We wouldn’t be alive if we couldn’t think, dream and imagine! No other creature on earth has this ability: it is unique to mankind—because we have been created in the image of a creative God.

The Bible has a great deal to say about our imaginations—being either illuminated with God’s light—or darkened, confused and vain. 

Did you know that your imagination is linked to the creative process of your faith?

When God Himself spoke creation into existence in Genesis 1, the words He spoke embodied His thoughts and imaginations. Before God said: “Let there be…” He had first seen (through the eyes of faith) the very image of what He was calling into being. 

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.

John 1:1-3 (KJV)

The Greek word for “Word” in the above verse is “Logos” which is a word uttered by a living voice but it also embodies a concept or idea.

So before God ever called into being the beasts of the field or the birds of the air etc.—He had first seen and imagined those things. This is the exact same faith that “calls those things that be not, as though they were” and the exact same faith that “looks not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are NOT seen“ (Romans 4:17  and 2 Corinthians 4:18)

How do we look at things that are NOT SEEN? 

When King David wanted to build God’s temple, David imagined it according to the design God gave him and he rolled it over and over in his mind, his thoughts and his imaginations:

Then he (David) called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. And David said to Solomon: “My son, as for me, it was in my mind to build a house to the name of the LORD my God.

1 Chronicles 22:6-10 (KJV)

And you, Solomon my son, know the God of your father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts. Take heed now; for the Lord has chosen you to build a house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it.

1 Chronicles 28:9-10 (KJV)

Most of the battles we fight are in the arena of our thoughts. There is a very good reason we are instructed in God’s Word to: “be transformed by the renewing of our minds” and to “cast down imaginations… bringing every thought captive to the obedience of Christ” (Romans 12:1-2 and 2 Corinthians 10:4-5). The reason is this:

What people continually think on and imagine will ultimately shape their destiny!

Have you ever noticed that when fear tries to creep in, pictures or images form in your mind? Fear wants us to “imagine the worst”. Remember the man Job in the Bible who, in all his troubles, said this:

What I feared has come upon me; what I dreaded has happened to me.

Job 3:25 (KJV)

I wonder how many times Job yielded his thoughts and imaginations to the things he dreaded?

The boundary of our lives is not on the outside, IT IS ON THE INSIDE! Pushing out the boundaries means removing the limitations on the inside of us—limitations in the way we think which determine how far we can see and how far we can run!

God wants us walking in the possibilities of the impossible… and all things are possible to the one who believes (Mark 9:23). Imagine that!

Abraham is a perfect example of limits on the inside that had to be removed! God called him to be the father of many nations… but there was a big problem (at least from Abraham’s perspective—well actually Abraham’s perspective was the problem). God had promised Abraham and Sarah a child, yet they were both old and Sarah was barren.

There were limitations on the inside of Abraham that had to go—boundaries that needed to be pushed out of the way so that Abraham could enter into his destiny in God! The imagination of Abraham’s heart needed to be renewed to a NEW IMAGE.

Abraham had to not consider the things he could see—his and Sarah’s old age and Sarah’s barrenness—and learn to consider what he could not see!  God taught Abraham to fix the gaze of his inner eye (the imagination of his heart) on the picture God gave him:

God took him (Abraham) outside and said, “Look up at the sky and count the stars—if indeed you can count them.” Then He said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”

Genesis 15:5 (NIV)

I will surely bless you and make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore.

Genesis 22:17 (NIV)

The image of offspring as countless as the stars and as the sand had to first develop on the inside of Abraham. Abraham had to take the limits off what he thought was possible with God!

Our born-again spirit is in constant communion with the Holy Spirit and believes, without question, everything God says! Our spirit man can soar to great heights and has never lost a battle! But it is the inward limitations of our thinking that is like a ball and chain that holds us back, when we were destined to soar. That ball and chain thinking says: You can’t… You will never be… You will never have…!

When we take the Word of God and meditate on it; picturing it, seeing it; IT CHANGES THE PICTURE ON THE INSIDE OF USANDIT IS OUT OF THAT PLACE THAT FAITH SPEAKS!

The Apostle Paul prayed for the saints at Ephesus concerning the removal of inward limitations and boundaries that kept them from clearly seeing and knowing all that God had for them:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him: The eyes of your understanding [i.e. thoughts and imaginations] being enlightened [i.e. flooded with light and made to see]; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, and the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.

Ephesians 1:17-18 (NKJV)

Let this be your prayer and declaration for your life. Let the image of what God has said expand your inward borders, leading you into a destiny well imagined!

Tracey Pekkanen

Perspective!

Perspective depends less on what you see, than it does the place from which you see.

—TRACEY PEKKANEN

One afternoon I was trying to read a book. While flicking through the pages and straining to read the small print, I thought: “I wish I had my reading glasses”. Then I found my reading glasses! They were sitting on the top of my head—right there, just waiting for me to put them on!  As I sat down to write this blog, I was reminded of this.

The eyes through which we view the world—ourselves, other people, situations and even God—is of enormous importance! Without my reading glasses on that afternoon, I couldn’t see clearly and it was bothering me.

I remember watching the second Paddington Bear movie a little while ago. Paddington wanted to buy a gift for his Aunt but he didn’t have enough money. So he began doing odd jobs for people to earn some extra money, including window cleaning. One man’s windows were so dirty that his view out of them was very obscured. Very little light could get into his house to allow him to see more clearly. He sat in his gloomy living room, grumpy and unhappy. His whole world view was his dark, gloomy house. Then Paddington came along with a bucket of soapy water and a sponge and cleaned the man’s windows. Light broke through and filled the entire living room. The man’s whole perspective changed instantly! He could see clearly. Things weren’t as bad as he thought. He found motivation to venture outside and meet people. He found joy and he found love!

Perspective! 

A way of looking and thinking; a particular attitude or way of regarding something.

A person’s perspective shapes their whole life and their view of the future. For example, have you ever felt depressed or anxious because you believed something or thought something, but then you got some news that changed the way you thought about that situation? So what happened? The good news you heard was a ray of light that shifted your perspective on that matter. In that moment you felt brighter, happier and even stronger.

There is darkness in this world that works hard to stop people from seeing God’s truth and light. It works hard to distort people’s views and cloud judgement through lies, deception and darkened imagery.

That’s why we need to hear from God! His Word is like the pair of reading glasses we need to put on to navigate through each day! His truth is the ray of light that needs to be spoken into the gloomy “living rooms” of life! God’s perspective will change EVERYTHING!

The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple. I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.

Psalm 119:130-131

Tracey Pekkanen

The Power of Forgiveness

Forgiveness is the fragrance that the violet sheds on the heel that has crushed it.

—Mark Twain

Like most of you, I have had some spectacularly fabulous opportunities to be offended and hurt by the attitudes, words and actions of others. I have had my seasons of grappling with forgiveness.

Jesus spoke a lot about forgiveness. It was the reason he was born: so that he could also die for the forgiveness of the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:2). That’s a lot of forgiveness!

At the end of Jesus’ earthly life, He was confronted—in a very raw and painful way—with the very message of forgiveness that He Himself had preached to others. He was now faced with the choice to forgive (or not) those who had falsely accused Him, condemned Him to die for a crime He was innocent of, and subjected Him to cruelty, pain and the utter humiliation of the cross.

When offences come—and they certainly will come (Luke 17:1)—we can find ourselves at a crossroads that can define us, depending on which way we turn: either the path of forgiveness, or the road that leads to bitterness and inevitable misery.

Bitterness is a poisonous drink to swallow. It rots the soul and body from the inside out! The Bible calls it a defiler of many (Hebrews 12:15). As Jesus hung there on the cross in His suffering and deep sorrow, He was offered a BITTER drink to swallow, but it says HE DID NOT DRINK IT.

Then they gave Him wine mingled with gall to drink, but He did not take it.

Mark 15:23

Jesus proved the power of forgiveness on the cross when He uttered the words: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do”.

You might be thinking: “Well they sure as eggs knew what they were doing when they said this to me… and when they did that to me.” Can I let you in on a little secret: the carnal nature is full of ego, ambition and appetites of the flesh (not to mention fears, hurts and crushing insecurities that often drive people’s responses). So it should not surprise us then that opportunities for us to be offended, and for us to offend someone else will come. It’s a playground of swings and roundabouts and without the grace to forgive, we stay on the playground: stunted in our personal and spiritual growth.

Forgiveness is releasing a person from an obligation and cancelling any debt they may owe us. It’s worth noting here that there is a debt we owe to one another which is spoken of in Romans 13:8:

Don’t owe anything to anyone, except your outstanding debt to continually love one another, for the one who learns to love has fulfilled every requirement of the law of God.

Romans 13:8

We cannot change what happened in the past—what was said, what was done, what was left undone—but we can change its affect on us. Unforgiveness drags the past into the present so that we are never free of it, but we have the power to keep past wrongs BEHIND us (in the rear view mirror of our lives), instead of a constant stumbling block or road block in front of us.

As we keep our eyes fixed on the love of God, we can keep moving forward with hope. That image in the rear view mirror becomes smaller and smaller, until it is eventually out of sight because we have moved on and turned a corner.

If you are struggling to forgive someone—or maybe even to forgive yourself—with God’s help you can! Remember Jesus has an unlimited reserve of forgiveness! He is the ultimate healer and the ultimate burden-bearer—the One who is intimately acquainted with forgiveness and the One who can restore a damaged soul. You CAN let go of the offence and be free of it—forever—by giving it over to Him.

He won’t brush aside the bruised and broken. He will be gentle with the weak and feeble, until his victory releases justice.

Matthew 12:20

Life is too short to allow the mistakes and wrongs of others—or our own faults and failures—to imprison our hearts for another moment.

Give yourself a better (and much happier) future by refusing to be bitter and resentful. Jesus wants you free—free from bitterness, unforgiveness, anger and resentment—free to live your best purpose-filled life, with the peace of God standing guard over your heart and mind (Phil. 4:6-7).

Finally get rid of the heavy, oppressive load you’ve been carrying: FORGIVE.

Prayer of Forgiveness

Dear Heavenly Father
I come to you in the Name of Jesus!
I bring to You all my hurt, anger and pain
I give you all the unforgiveness and bitterness I have held in my heart
I give all of it over to you and release my hold on it completely!
I let go of it right now!
I choose to forgive!
I receive your full and total forgiveness.
I receive your perfect peace.
Thank you for restoring and healing my soul.
Thank you that you love me!
Thank you that you said you would never leave me nor forsake me—no matter what!
In Jesus’ Name I believe I am free!
AMEN!

And forgive us our debts (trespasses and wrong doings), as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].

Matthew 6:12

Tracey Pekkanen

What Forgiveness Is—And What It Is Not

What Forgiveness Is

  • Forgiveness is always a choice—not a feeling. Feelings and emotions need to come with a warning label! They are not always your friend! Emotions have no brains: they don’t think; they’re not logical; they’re not always reasonable! They just “feel”… and feelings not anchored in truth, mislead. The sad reality is that our feelings fluctuate. They can be like a disobedient child who needs to be directed and taught. So don’t let your feelings ride roughshod over you (Ephesians 4:26-27)! You can make the CHOICE to forgive today—as an act of FAITH—not feelings! (Hebrews 11:6)
  • Forgiveness desires what is good—it does not seek revenge or payback by imagining harm towards someone. In other words, it does not delight in “getting even” (Romans 12:17-21). The desire to see someone suffer for their wrongdoing (or perceived wrongdoing) is not the heart of God (Proverbs 24:17). Remember, God did not deal with your personal sin by nailing you personally to the cross (1 John 1:9, Matthew 18:21-35).
  • Forgiveness is a debt canceller. No-one can be a righteous judge and juror in their own case. Leave all of it with the Lord and whatever “debt” someone owes to you (and we are not just speaking of money here), let God handle your case (Matthew 6:12). Let forgiveness settle in your heart so that God’s justice can recompense you for any wrong done and supply back to you whatever was owed or lacking.
  • Forgiveness is a champion of peace—it holds its peace and does not continue to rehearse an offence. Be careful not to continue talking about a suffered wrong with others—making them a party to the offence (Ephesians 4:30-31), or continue to self-dialogue about it. It will only water the roots of offence rather than wither them.
  • Forgiveness is strength—not weakness. The flesh delights in holding a grudge (but the spirit is always willing to forgive). Forgiveness makes way for spiritual growth and renewal in our lives and closes the door to demonic attack (2 Corinthians 2:10-11, Ephesians 4:26-27). Sin will inhibit our effectiveness, cloud our vision and block our ability to receive from God (Mark 11:25). Forgiveness will always add strength to your life; but unforgiveness will always weaken it (Hebrews 12:15).
  • Forgiveness is humility—not humiliation. Forgiving does not make you a doormat! It makes you a victor! (1 Peter 5:6-7, Psalm 149:4)

What Forgiveness Is Not

  • Forgiveness does not equal trust—if someone steals from you, then don’t trust them with your wallet!
  • Forgiveness does not mean you condone or agree with another’s wrong behaviour.
  • Forgiveness does not do away with the law of the land—in the case of a criminal offence, you can be forgiven but you still have to serve the time or pay the fine.
  • Forgiveness does not always mean forgetting—battle scars are healed reminders of the battle, but they are no longer an open, festering wound! Often our trials become testimonies. How can you testify if you don’t remember what you are testifying about?
  • Forgiveness does not necessarily mean keeping company with someone or letting them back into your life. Some relationships might be unhealthy and unwise. Always seek wisdom. Some people you might have to love from a distance.
  • Forgiveness is not waiting for an apology—this holds a soul to ransom. The only person you are waiting on in order to forgive, is you! Forgiveness is within your power to give and not someone else’s ability to apologise.

And forgive us our debts (trespasses and wrong doings), as we have forgiven our debtors [letting go of both the wrong and the resentment].

Matthew 6:12

Tracey Pekkanen

The Best is Yet to Come

It is more important to go slow and gain the lessons you need along the journey than to rush the process and arrive at your destination empty.

—Germany Kent

In my house, just above the entrance to the hallway, hangs a sign that says: “The best is yet to come“!  Sometimes I glance up at that sign and say those words out loud to remind myself that this is what I believe—the best is yet to come! Now I speak those words from an already blessed position (having already received so many good things), but God is not done with me… you…us yet! There are still dreams to be fulfilled; plans to unfold; places to step into; people to meet; harvests to reap—you get the picture. Yes, there is more! In God there is always more!

God is not a mediocre God so don’t limit what you can receive and achieve because of mediocre expectations! 

Definition of “Mediocre”

Ordinary, average, passable, just adequate, uninspired, undistinguished, unexceptional, unexciting, unremarkable.

It takes courage to hope against hope in the face of mediocre circumstances. It takes faith to believe what is not yet seen (Hebrews 11:1), when what is seen leaves us unsatisfied.

With God, you are stronger than your struggles and more fierce than your fears. God provides comfort and strength to those who trust in Him. Be encouraged, keep standing, and know that everything’s going to be alright.

Germany Kent

You have been called to hope with courage and believe! This is how Jesus operated in His humanity—and it’s how we live! Don’t think it strange that you are challenged in life—it’s so you can overcome! You are born of God for victory—not for mediocrity! (1 John 5:4)

Don’t be tricked into mediocre thinking. Jesus came to raise people up out of every form of bondage through the power of His resurrection (Gal. 2:20). Thoughts of defeat, unworthiness, fear and intimidation don’t belong to you.

A thief has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I [Jesus] have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!

John 10:10 (TPT)

The discovery of purpose begins with discovering the thoughts of God towards you.

God is masterful at taking the ordinary and turning it into the extraordinary! He can turn the average into the unusual! He inspires the uninspired! He takes the undistinguished and makes them stand out! He turns the unexceptional into the exceptional and those things that seem unremarkable can be transformed into that which is noteworthy! 

You do not serve a mediocre God and He does not see you as a mediocre person!
You are called to prosper in life (3 John 1:2)! In whatever station, calling or place, God’s desire is for you to succeed—to be an exceptional mother; a successful business man or woman; a remarkable teacher; an inspired writer… 

Bible definition of “Prosper”

To grant a prosperous and expeditious journey; to lead by a direct and easy way; to grant a successful issue; to cause to prosper; to succeed
(Strong’s Greek 2137)

Trust in the goodness of God towards you… in His redemptive power… in His forgiving disposition… in His loving nature! Cultivate an expectation of His very best for you every day! Put a faith “tug” on God’s Throne of Grace for the abundant supply available to you! (Hebrews 4:16)

You are exceptional, and God loves you with an exceptional love! Mediocrity is not your destiny. Believe for His best today, and trust for His best tomorrow.

Tracey Pekkanen

Pray and Believe

God wants us to have faith that He hears us when we pray, and that Heaven is on the move to influence, change and rearrange things to bring about the desired result.

Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the One who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes (prays) for us. Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

Romans 8:34-35

It is a comforting thought to know that someone is praying for you—speaking to God on your behalf. I remember a particular occasion some years ago. I was in a battle and feeling the pressure. Out of the blue my phone rang. It was a woman I knew. We only saw each other once or twice a year and she lived in a different city—so it was an unexpected phone call. She phoned to say: “You are on my heart and I have been praying for you”. That encouraged me and I remembered I was never alone in a battle. Never! 

One year ago my husband Joel & I met a woman named Julie. She ran a business that we had visited a number of times. We would often pray for Julie each time we drove past her shop. We would pray and we would speak life and favour over her.

One day Joel and I visited Julie’s shop again. Something had changed. Things were going well for Julie. She greeted us with excitement and told us her good news. Joel and I were very happy to hear this good news, but also because we knew we had a small part to play in this through our prayers.

When we pray, we can cooperate with the Holy Spirit for the influence of Heaven on earth. God wants us to have faith that He hears us when we pray, and that Heaven is on the move to influence, change and rearrange things to bring about the desired result. 

So don’t be discouraged when it doesn’t appear that things are changing. A great deal of movement may be underway that you can’t see! Your part is to pray and to speak to the contrary situations of life, and be confident that when you are weak and in a battle, someone is praying for you! 

After we have spoken God’s Word, and after we have prayed, we don’t need to stand around scrutinising our view of things, looking for signs that something has changed. Jesus walked away after He spoke to the fig tree—He just got on with life. Yet for the disciples, there was no external evidence that anything had changed at all. But it had! The Bible tells us that: “immediately the fig tree withered”. So why were the disciples so surprised the next day when they passed the tree again? It was because change began in an unseen place—the roots! The tree began to “wither from the roots”. In other words, change had begun immediately, but it just wasn’t visible YET! (Mark 11:12,20).

Isn’t that what faith is: “the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1). So when you pray, and when you speak God’s Word, BELIEVE.

Continue to thank God that He has heard your prayers and petitions. Continue to speak, decree and declare the Word of God over every situation that is contrary to His promises! Pray for one another! When we trust in Him, things have a way of working out for the best.

So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfil his designed purpose.

Romans 8:28 (TPT)

Who then is left to condemn us? Certainly not Jesus, the Anointed One! For he gave his life for us, and even more than that, he has conquered death and is now risen, exalted, and enthroned by God at his right hand. So how could he possibly condemn us since he is continually praying for our triumph? 

Romans 8:34 (TPT)

Tracey Pekkanen

© Copyright. Wired for Word Ministries. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author and/or owner, is strictly prohibited. Permission is given to use excerpts and links, provided that full and clear credit is given to Wired for Word Ministries.

Observe the Light

When the storms of life come—and they come to all—it is faith in God’s eternal goodness and His promises that makes the light break through in the darkness.

—Tracey Pekkanen

When the path you tread withholds the light
When you cannot see—as if t’was night
Then take faith’s step, not born of sight
And make the darkness flee!

Though shadows loom and seek to scare
Upon the path where feet do dare
Hold tight the flame and take no care
And make the darkness flee!

Slip not your foot, nor slacken pace
Fear not the trial nor battle’s haste
Stand in the light of Truth’s embrace
And make the darkness flee!

Lift up your voice—let truth be heard
And angels hearken to His Word
The light shall pierce, and change shall stir
And make the darkness flee!

Observe the light—it cannot dim
No darkness can diminish Him
His light will see you to the win
And make the darkness flee!

By Tracey Pekkanen

© Copyright. Wired for Word Ministries. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author and/or owner, is strictly prohibited. Permission is given to use excerpts and links, provided that full and clear credit is given to Wired for Word Ministries.

The Reflection

The words to this poem began over 20 years ago. I was living and studying abroad at the time. They flowed as if from God’s heart directly to mine. I hope it speaks to you as it has often spoken to me.

To whom do you compare yourself?
Do you think it is unwise?
By what standard do you measure?
Looking through imperfect eyes

On each is My Designer’s mark
Stamped “Fearfully and Wonderfully Made”
Each a masterpiece of art
For which a great price has been paid

As I’ve purposed, I’ve created
Never two to be the same
And it was I from earth’s foundation
Who has called you by your name!

So for a glimpse—a longing stare
At who you’re meant to be
Gaze at the mirror of My Word
And your reflection you will see

Don’t walk away and then forget
The image you behold
Keep fixed on it—hold tight to it
And a changing will unfold

Yes, a changing to a likeness
That is far beyond compare
To any earthly image
That once did hold your stare

By Tracey Pekkanen

© Copyright. Wired for Word Ministries. Unauthorised use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from the author and/or owner, is strictly prohibited. Permission is given to use excerpts and links, provided that full and clear credit is given to Wired for Word Ministries.