If you only knew how many times in a day I want to scream from the roof tops … I’M NOT STRONG!  I CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE!  {yes, all caps to resonate yelling was intended}.  :)

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In light of yesterday’s post … I thought I’d share how I overcome.

I’m weary.  I’m tired.  I’m physically spent.  I’m emotionally drained.

I know God is near, I know He is lifting me … yet at times He can seem so far away.

This past Sunday, I decided to go up for prayer after church.  One glitch.  How do you properly convey all that you need, all that you’re struggling with, all that you’ve been through … 1) to a stranger and 2) in mere minutes?

So I asked for a fresh anointing.  Like dew covers the grass … I needed a fresh covering.

I will be like the dew to Israel, and they will blossom like a lily.  Hosea 14:5

Turn to God, so that … times of refreshing may come from the Lord.  Acts 3:19

As I was being prayed over, God gave me a Word.  I don’t know if this has ever happened to you, or if you’re familiar with it.  And if you’re not … I apologize if it’s too heebie-jeebie for you … but oh boy talk about powerful stuff!

So as she’s praying for me … suddenly it’s God talking to me.  He’s giving me a Word.  A beautiful, refreshing Word.  He’s telling me I’m His child.  He hasn’t forgotten me.  He’s right next to me.  To hold His right hand … He’s offering it … everyday.  Stay in His Will and in His Word.  He loves me.

Pow.er.ful!

And then something else amazing happened.  She asked if I’ve been baptized in the Holy Spirit.  And if you don’t know what that means, or if you’ve never heard it … I’m going to be giving you all kindz o’ heebie-jeebies now!

I said I believed I have, but not with evidence in speaking in tongues.  You see … I’ve actually been praying for the gift of tongues for the last two-ish years.  I also believe you can be baptized in the Holy Spirit without the gift of a different language.  I know without a doubt that the Holy Spirit is alive and thriving inside of me … yet I longed for the gift of new prayer language.

And so she prayed.  And I believed.  And I received.

Not immediately.  But during my devotion and prayer time this past Monday, I again believed and started praying … and it came! {acts 2:4}

Pow.er.ful! And I know I’ll never be the same.

And the last two days during my devotion reading I’ve come across continued confirmation from Him that I thought might encourage you too {text taken from “You Are My Hiding Place,” from Amy Carmichael}:

He allows me to hunger.

His son found himself in a barren place.  His Father said,
“In this place I will give you the peace you are longing for.
Here I will give you spiritual food that will nourish you.”

I am the one who allowed you to come into these humbling
circumstances, and allowed you to hunger.
I did this so that I might feed you with manna – My bread from heaven.

Later … the son wondered why one like himself,
who is so richly fed and cared for at times,
should at other times feel so poor and needy and thirsty.
His Father replied by asking four questions:

Can someone who has never thirsted know
how precious is My living water?

Can someone who has never discovered rivers
of these living waters flowing on barren heights –
can he ever lead his thirsty friend to those rivers?

Can someone who has never walked the deep valleys of the
spirit help a friend who is fainting – or lead this friend
to the well-springs that will save the life of his soul?

Can someone how has never seen burning sands in the
wilderness turn into a refreshing pool – can he speak in
praise of My marvels, or My power?

Are you in a dry place in need a covering of Dew?  Are you hungry for Bread from heaven?  Do you find yourself thirsting after the Living Water?

I promise you He sees you.  He knows.  He’s there.

Waiting.

Waiting for you to cry out to Him.  To believe in Him.  To drink in Him.

Call out today … He hears.  He will bless.  He will comfort.  He will provide a fresh anointing.

{there are many different beliefs on the baptism of the Holy Spirit … if you’re curious to learn more, i encourage you to read acts 2 … and i also found this article that aligns with what i personally believe.  if you have questions, or would like to discuss further … i’d love to hear from you!}