GOD'S PRESENCE BRINGS DELIVERANCE

GOD'S PRESENCE BRINGS DELIVERANCE

For some time now, I have been waiting with great expectation for certain things in my life to come to pass. These desires are dear to me, and I’ve held onto them tightly, believing they would eventually be fulfilled. However, despite my anticipation, various delays have occurred, and the waiting period has stretched longer than I imagined.

Determined not to give up, I resolved to remain hopeful, holding onto the belief that everything I was waiting for would come to fruition in due time. I told myself that my expectations were enough to sustain me, convinced that simply believing was all I needed.

But here’s what I didn’t realize: Expectation (believing that something will happen) is not the same as Faith, which is a deep, unshakable conviction and trust in God, no matter the circumstances. Beliefs can change; Convictions remain.

As time went on, the weight of waiting began to take its toll on me. I felt drained, as though I was pouring all my energy into anticipating the fulfillment of my desires. This emotional strain slowly wore me down, leaving me fatigued and dangerously close to slipping into a depressive state.

Then, one day, amid my exhaustion, something extraordinary happened. I heard a voice; soft, yet so profound, singing Victoria Orenze's "I Get Backing" over me. The words of the song resonated deeply, and I felt a nudge in my spirit to lean into God’s presence through worship.

I decided to play the song on repeat, letting its message wash over me. Shortly after I began to dance, hesitant at first, but then with increasing freedom and abandonment. As I danced and worshiped, I allowed myself to simply dwell in God’s presence, focusing on Him instead of my unmet expectations.

When I finally stopped, something inside me had shifted. I felt lighter, freer, and filled with a peace that I couldn’t fully comprehend. It was as though the burdens I had carried were lifted, replaced by a renewed sense of hope and strength.

In that moment, I was reminded that true deliverance doesn’t come from striving or waiting on our own strength. It comes from stepping into God’s presence and allowing Him to refill and refresh you daily. Hope is restored in His presence, and His joy becomes our strength.

LYLY🌷

I AM IN AWE OF THE MAN, JESUS.

I AM IN AWE OF THE MAN, JESUS.

I am in awe of the man, Jesus.
Of the immeasurable depth of His love for me.
A love that is both tender and fierce.
Tender enough to soothe my broken spirit,
Yet fierce enough to shatter every chain that binds me.

His love stretches far beyond what the eye can see;
It transcends the superficial and reaches the depths of my being.
He looks at me, not through the lens of my flaws,
But with the eyes of a Creator who sees beauty in His work,
Beyond my appearance, beyond my imperfections,
Beyond the person I pretend to be.

He sees me in my entirety:
Every flaw, every weakness, every hidden scar.
And still, He declares me not merely enough but the best there is.
A masterpiece in His eyes, worthy of His deepest affections and devotion.

How could I not be overwhelmed by a love so vast,
A love so constant, so unshakable?
His heart longs for me and craves me with an intensity that defies comprehension.
A longing so pure, so holy,
With a divine desire to pour Himself into me.

And when darkness lurks at the corners of my soul,
His word meets me like a gentle whisper,
Reassuring me, anchoring me in the truth of His love.

---

I am in awe of the man, Jesus.
Of the breathtaking humility that defines Him.
Though He is divine, pure, and perfectly righteous,
He chooses to stoop low, to care for someone like me,
A sinner undeserving of such grace.

Even when I turn away,
When my flaws stand glaring,
When my heart grows cold and hard,
He doesn’t just stand at a distance,
Waiting for me to clean up myself.

He steps into the mess of my life,
Into the chaos, the brokenness, the pain.
With no condemnation, but with compassion,
He sits with me in the very mess I’ve created,
Taking the weight of my guilt,
Absorbing it into Himself until I am free to breathe again.

Yet somehow, He doesn’t recoil.

---

I am in awe of the man, Jesus.
Of the endless generosity of His mercy.
He is perfectly just, never compromising His truth,
Yet His mercy flows with an abundance that defies logic.

No sin is too great, no failure too heavy
For Him to forgive and cast aside.
Even when I’ve strayed far from His path,
Even when my failures seem insurmountable,
His arms are ever ready, waiting to welcome me back.

And the way He sees my soul,
Not with judgment, but with the kindest, most compassionate eyes.
His patience is infinite, unfathomable,
Enduring my doubts, my failures, my wanderings,
Always drawing me closer to Him.

---

I am in awe of the man, Jesus.
Of the sheer selflessness of His sacrifice.
A sacrifice so excruciating, so undeserved, yet so graciously given.

He laid down His life, not for the righteous, but for me,
A sinner, ungrateful and blind to the magnitude of His gift.
How undeserving I was to be purchased at the price of His precious blood!

In a thousand lifetimes, in a million years,
I could never repay the cost of His life for mine.
And yet, He gave it freely.
He took my sins, my guilt, my shame,
All the burdens that weighed me down.

And in their place, He poured out His love,
A love so powerful, it redeems, restores, and makes me whole.

---

I am in awe of this man, Jesus.
Forever and always, in awe!

LYLY🌷

The Relentless Love of the Groom: A Call to Yield

The Relentless Love of the Groom: A Call to Yield

I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.” ‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:3‬ ‭ESV

It is so characteristic of us, the BRIDE of Christ to proclaim with passion and conviction the depth of our love for the GROOM. We declare how much we adore Him, how devoted we are, and how deeply we long for His presence. Yet, when He comes to us, knocking on the doors of our hearts, we often hesitate.

We offer excuses countless reasons why we can’t respond right away.
“It’s not the right time,” we say.
“I’m too busy, too tired, too overwhelmed.”
We find it inconvenient to yield, even to the One we claim to love so deeply.

The BRIDE, which is us, stays awake, restless, longing for His love. Her heart aches with desire for the GROOM, but when He arrives, when He stands outside in the quiet stillness of the night, drenched in the dew of longing, she does not rise to meet Him. We do not rise.

We hear His gentle knock, His call for intimacy, but instead of opening the door, we linger, delay, and let the moment pass. We allow our distractions, our comforts, and our fears to hold us back from responding to the very One who gives our souls life and meaning.

And then, just as He turns away, just as His presence begins to fade, we suddenly realize what we’ve done. We rush after Him, desperate to find Him, to make amends for our indifference. But by the time we move, He is gone.

Now vulnerable and exposed without the GROOM’s protective presence, the BRIDE—we—encounter the harshness of the world. Life’s struggles confront us like cruel patrol guards on a cold, loveless night. Pain, burdens, and overwhelming sorrow greet us with no mercy, and we awaken to the brutal reality of our emptiness without Him.

It is a rude awakening, one that strips away our illusions and exposes the fragile state of our hearts. In those moments, we realize just how desperately we need the GROOM, how lost we are without Him, and how futile it is to run after anything or anyone else to fill the void He alone can fill.

So I ask you, How long will you delay?

How long will you resist yielding to the One who loves you with a love beyond comprehension? A love that doesn’t diminish in the face of your imperfections, a love that embraces you with all your flaws, failures, and excess baggage.

The GROOM—your God, your Lover, stands at the door, knocking, not because He needs you, but because He wants you. He desires your love with a longing so profound that it defies human understanding.

He craves you, not a part of you, not a version of you that is "perfect" or "fixed," but the real, raw, honest you. He longs for your heart, your attention, your surrender.

So why wait any longer?

Why keep Him waiting outside while you hold on to excuses that pale in comparison to the beauty of His presence?

Yield to Him. Open the door. Let Him in.

Because the truth is, He has never stopped desiring you. He has never stopped pursuing you, even when you’ve delayed, even when you’ve turned away. His love remains constant, unwavering, and unconditional.

Your GROOM is waiting.

Will you finally yield to the One who loves you more deeply than words can express? Will you give Him the love He has always desired from you?

LYLY🌷

GOD IS SO INTO YOU

 GOD IS SO INTO YOU

Jeremiah 33:3

Ask me, and I will tell you things that you don’t know and can’t find out.

"God will not die for you and not speak to you." This profound statement by Stephanie Ike reveals a beautiful truth about God's heart for His people. His greatest desire is to converse with us, to engage in an ongoing, intimate relationship where communication flows both ways. God, by His very nature, is always speaking. After all, He is the Word. In fact, the Word is not just something He says, it is who He is.

John 1:1 declares:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

This foundational truth emphasizes that God is inherently a communicator. From the beginning of creation, He has been reaching out to humanity, longing to reveal His heart, His will, and His love. But the challenge often lies not in God's willingness to speak but in our ability to listen.

The Issue of Posture

How do we position ourselves before God to truly hear Him? In prayer, do we simply pour out our hearts, speaking and making our requests known, without taking the time to pause, wait, and listen? Communication with God is a two-way street. It involves both speaking to Him and receiving from Him.

I remember a time when the Holy Spirit asked me a simple yet thought-provoking question:

"Why do you think Satan lies?"

The answer became clear: Satan lies to counter or confuse what God has spoken. His goal is to create doubt, confusion, and distance between us and the truth of God's Word. This is why the Holy Spirit is referred to as our Counselor. Through the Holy Spirit, God brings clarity, wisdom, and the knowledge of the truth to our hearts, guiding us into alignment with His will.

1 Timothy 2:4 affirms this truth:
"Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth."

Hearing God: Our Design by Creation

It’s essential to understand that we were created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). By design, we are wired to hear God because we carry His Spirit within us. This means that the ability to hear God is not something foreign or unattainable, it is inherent in our very being.

However, while we have the capacity to hear Him, the Holy Spirit works within us to sharpen and heighten our sensitivity. This spiritual sharpening allows us to perceive, with clarity and precision, what God is saying in specific moments or situations.

Many people often express frustration, saying, "I can't hear from God." But more often than not, it’s not that God is silent, it’s that we lack the sensitivity to perceive His voice.

Job 33:14 highlights this reality:
"For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not."

The Multiple Channels Through Which God Speaks

God communicates with us through various channels, each uniquely designed to convey His truth:

1. The Bible – The written Word of God, which remains the primary and most reliable source of His voice.
2. Dreams – Visions of the night, where God can reveal His will, provide warnings, or offer guidance.
3. Visions – Supernatural glimpses into divine realities that can offer insight or direction.
4. Prophecy and Words of Knowledge – Messages given that speak directly to our situations or future.
5. The Audible Voice of God – Though rare, God can speak in an audible voice that is unmistakable.

Despite the diversity of these channels, one thing remains constant: God will never contradict Himself. If He speaks to you through a dream or vision, it will always align with the truth found in Scripture. Every message from God will point to the same truth, Jesus Christ.

John 14:6 makes this clear:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me."

Understanding the Bible as the Ultimate Truth

This brings to mind a profound statement by a respected rabbi, as shared by Esther Ideh:

"Things are not true because the Bible says it. The Bible says it because they are true."

This means that the Bible is not merely a book of doctrines or moral guidelines, it is a reflection of eternal truths that are rooted in the very nature of God. The truths in Scripture are timeless, unchanging, and applicable to every generation.

Missing the Moment

When we fail to perceive what God is saying in a particular season or situation, we risk missing a critical moment of alignment with His will. Every word from God is an invitation, an opportunity to partner with Him, to walk in step with His plans and purposes.

The inability to hear or recognize His voice is not due to His absence but to our lack of spiritual sensitivity. It is a call for us to draw closer, to quiet our hearts, and to position ourselves to listen.

God is always speaking. The question is, are we listening?

Let us strive to cultivate a posture of attentiveness, ensuring that we don't miss His voice in the midst of life's noise. For in every word He speaks, there is life, truth, and the power to transform.

LYLY🌷

GIVE IT UP

GIVE IT UP

For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light. Matthew 11:30

Over this past week, I found myself caught in an overwhelming struggle with doubt and fear. These emotions weighed on me so heavily that I often felt as if I were suffocating under their pressure. It wasn't just a passing feeling or a fleeting moment of weakness, it was a constant, relentless burden that I carried with me, day in and day out.

At times, the weight of it all became so unbearable that I broke down crying, not just once, but several times. Each breakdown left me feeling more helpless than the last. It was as if I was sinking deeper and deeper into a pit of despair, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn't find a way out.

What made it even more difficult was the fact that I struggled to pray. Prayer, which had once been a source of strength and comfort for me, now felt like an impossible task. It wasn’t that I stopped praying entirely, I still prayed, but not with the same fervor or consistency as before. It wasn’t even close to the commitment I had made with Abba.

Even in my sleep, I could hear His gentle beckoning. His voice, full of love and concern, would call out to me. I heard His admonitions, His reminders to get up and pray, to seek Him in the midst of my struggles. But no matter how clearly I heard His voice, I couldn’t seem to respond. I remained stuck, paralyzed by a spiritual lethargy that I couldn’t break free from.

I knew deep down that if I could just pray, if I could muster the strength to truly connect with God, this weight would become lighter. And yet, despite knowing this truth, I continued to struggle. It was as if something was holding me back, something I couldn’t quite name or understand.

There were nights when the burden became so heavy that it robbed me of sleep. On those nights, I would lie awake, unable to find rest. Eventually, I would cry out to God, wailing and praying for a breakthrough, for a release from the heaviness that enveloped me. And for a brief moment after those prayers, I would feel lighter. There would be a sense of relief, a glimmer of hope. But it never lasted. The weight always returned, pressing down on me once more.

Ironically, the song that I found myself playing over and over again this week was "No Longer Slaves" by Bethel Music. I listened to it on repeat, clinging to its message and hoping that somehow, it would help break the chains of anxiety and fear that had bound me. I wanted it to be more than just a song—I wanted it to be a declaration of freedom, a key to unlocking the peace I so desperately sought.

It wasn’t until later, after much reflection, that I realized why the burden felt so heavy. I had been trying to carry it alone. In my struggle to manage my doubts and fears, I had forgotten a crucial truth: I am not meant to bear these burdens by myself. Somewhere along the way, I had lost sight of the fact that I have a Father who invites me to bring my fears, doubts, and anxieties into His presence.

I had forgotten His promise in Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT):
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

In my exhaustion and frustration, I had neglected to stand in the place of prayer with the confidence that God hears and responds. I had forgotten that my prayers, no matter how small or weak they might feel, have the power to tip the scales. Instead of bringing my burdens to God and trusting Him with them, I had been waiting for Him to act while holding on tightly to my fears and doubts.

But in truth, God had been waiting on me. He had been patiently waiting for me to reach a point where I would finally let go, where I would release my tight grip on my anxieties and allow Him to transform them. He wasn’t distant or indifferent to my pain. He was right there, ready to turn my fears and doubts into seeds of faith and hope.

It’s a humbling realization: God isn’t waiting for me to have it all together before I come to Him. He’s simply waiting for me to come. To release. To trust. And when I do, He takes what I offer, no matter how messy or broken, and turns it into something beautiful.

Now, I am reminded that I don’t have to fight this battle alone. I don’t have to carry this weight by myself. My Father is with me, and His yoke is easy, His burden light. All I need to do is come to Him, and in His presence, I will find the rest and freedom I have been longing for.

LYLY🌷

THE FRAUD BELIEVER

THE FRAUD BELIEVER

Just quite recently, I fell into sins I believed were beneath me, sins I thought I had overcome. It wasn’t pride that made me think they were beneath me, but the confidence that I had indeed conquered them.

One of these sins, I thought I had been victorious over for years. But before this recent fall, I recall God warning me about my past failures. He reminded me that, while I may have been living above the sin, I had not been truly remorseful or repentant. He even presented me with a list of occasions when I had fallen into this sin without genuine repentance. I should have taken those warnings far more seriously and recognized that it was a spiritual battle.

Unfortunately, the most I did was reach out to those I had hurt and apologize, thinking that was what God wanted from me. But in reality, it was ignorance on my part, I failed to address the root cause.

Fast forward to now: I didn’t intentionally commit this sin again. It began with something seemingly harmless, something I didn’t own up to, which suddenly escalated into lies and attempts to cover up my actions. Then came the accuser of the brethren (Revelation 12:10). The first thing he called me was “FRAUD.” He went on to remind me how I go around preaching, teaching the Word of God, and praying for others, yet, deep down, I was just masking my sinful self. “FRAUD,” he repeated.

I felt a deep sense of shame. For days, I struggled with the weight of being a fraud. I couldn’t pray or study the Word of God because I felt unworthy. I mean, I’m a fraud, what’s the point?

While I was drowning in self-pity and guilt, “The Greatest Friend” and “The Sweetest Solace” reminded me that the devil is an accuser. Even though he is the father of lies, he doesn’t always accuse falsely. Instead, he manipulates us into sin and then uses that same sin to accuse us.

The Holy Spirit charged me: “Instead of lying in your sin, confess and repent.” He brought to mind Revelation 12:11:
“And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony.”

He urged me to write about what I felt, the feeling of being a fraud. But I procrastinated, not because I’m stubborn, but because I hesitated (yes, I know...smh). He continued to remind me to write about it until I again fell into another sin. This time, the accuser wasted no time returning with the same accusations.

This time, however, I didn’t feel hurt by what he said. Instead, I was broken by the sheer stupidity and arrogance that led me to fall again. I felt empty, ashamed of how easily I had fallen into his trap.

But thank God for His grace! His mercy said No! Sin would not take control of me.

The Holy Spirit didn’t just correct me, He schooled me. He revealed the root of my sin and, once again, charged me to write about this “FRAUD” feeling that so many believers experience.

Keynote: Repent and Confess

Here’s the truth: You cannot be accused of something you’ve already admitted. Once you confess it, it’s no longer an accusation—it’s a testimony. So, make it a point to own your sins. Confess and repent.

Remember:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

Don’t let the accuser hold you in bondage. Confess, repent, and walk in the freedom Christ has given you.

LYLY🌷

PRUNING

 PRUNING

Submitting to God is no simple journey;

It is a path lined with countless moments of pruning,

A process of shedding, refining, and letting go.

Where parts of me are carefully cut away,

Not out of cruelty, but to make room for growth.

It demands a surrender so deep,

For something better, something divine.

That even my own desires and impulses feel like strangers.

It comes with a deep, often uncomfortable self-deprivation,

A constant pulling away from the desires of my flesh,

As the Holy Spirit steps in, holding me accountable

For every thought that crosses my mind,

For every word I utter, be it gentle or sharp,

For every action I take,

And even for the moments of inaction,

Where silence speaks louder than anything I could say.

And oh, how He teaches humility!

He works humility into the fabric of my being.

A breaking down of my pride and my will,

Replaced with a quiet surrender, a softening of the heart.

Not as a mere lesson,

But as a way of life,

Teaching me to lower myself even when it aches to do so.

There are days when frustration bubbles up within me,

Days when I feel the weight of restraint.

And yes, there are times when the pruning feels unbearable.

I find myself seething with anger, even rebellious,

Angry at the things He asks me to overlook,

The slights I am told to ignore, the words I must swallow,

The situations I am not permitted to react to or even address,

To let go without so much as a whisper of defense.

I remember vividly, having this intricate plan,

A masterful strategy to handle a situation.

Every detail was carefully thought through,

Every step calculated with precision.

A way I believed was right, even righteous.

But just as I moved to act,

The Holy Spirit intervened,

Gently but firmly admonishing me,

Reminding me that my ways are not His ways,

And that even the best-laid plans must bow to His wisdom.

So, here I stand, pruned and humbled,

Stripped of my own will.

And so, I submit again,

Trusting that in this pruning, He is preparing me,

Shaping me into something that reflects His glory,

Even when I cannot yet see it.

LYLY🌷