Tuesday January 3rd ,2023
1 Peter 5:7-11
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.8 Be [c]sober, be [d]vigilant; [e]because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. 9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. 10 But [f]may the God of all grace, who called [g]us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus after you have suffered a while, [h]perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. 11 To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
It is now 3 days into the new without Joshua my second Christmas without him. But God you are faithful, my prayer is that as I continue to draw on the “True Vine John 15” you will increase my faith; help me to stay sober and vigilant. Perfect my speech, stablish me and my family while giving us the strength needed to focus and do all that you have called us to do as a family because without you it wouldn’t be possible. As I began to write I heard the Spirit of God say “I want you to write about what being sober and vigilant looks like- and why it is crucial to be in everyday life but more importantly when learning to manage this journey called Grief. I will be using the King James Bible Dictionary to define both of these words.
Sober– Temperate in the use of spiritous liquors, Not intoxicated or overpowered by spiritous liquors; not drunken, not mad, or insane; not wild, visionary, or heated with passion; having the regular exercise of cool dispassionate reason.
Vigilant– Watchfully; with attention to danger and the means of safety; circumspectly.
When I first of the news of Joshua’s passing as much as I was trying to hold it together mentally it was a lot to process. I was at a loss for words when asked how I was feeling and still at times can’t fully express how I truly feel, but the Lord has words for me. The Trauma that came along with the events of that September day changed me forever. Although I was waking up and doing what I needed to do, I was not putting much thought into it.
At times, I was just doing things just to do it with little thought into why moving like a well-oiled machine. Now that I can look back I can say I was not thinking sober-minded. When dealing with grief and I can only speak based on my personal experience, I believe the mind does something to protect one’s body from the shock that they just experienced “Survival mode” if you want to call it. So I decided that to make it through this process I need to be mindful of what was important and what could wait. I was not going to be the cause of more emotional distress and this is why I took getting rest very important. I was not taking on more than I needed to because I had to make sure I was not burning out for the sake of myself and the rest of my children.
Philippians 2:5
5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus
Lord, We don’t know nor can see with the natural eye what happens to our minds in the first few moments of a traumatic event, but you do. What I do know is that we all handle grief and tragic event differently. King Jesus I am asking you tonight to set minds free and destroy every yoke of bondage. Lose their minds from the way that they have been thinking, give them a sober way of thinking. May the blood of Jesus was and fix any abnormalities due to the stress that was caused by any situations that came against them. Completely restore their mindset in the Mighty Name of Jesus #Thedevilisaliar
To be Sober Minded one must have clarity which can be hard when facing fiery trials from the wicked one Ephesians 6:16, but we must not grow weary and remember that we have the Help of the Holy Spirit that makes intercession for us when we cannot find words to say Romans 8:26. It is still very hard for me to comprehend that someone murdered my son. To have that much anger built up is not good for one’s soul. Lord, bring the people before you that carried out this sinful act and pray that you will them be better people and surrender their lives to you. I am asking that you go to them and show yourself as you did for me 8 years ago. Help them so that they do not go out and cause pain to another family as they did mine. Intervene Lord, stop the plans of the enemy, I bind the spirit of Murder, Destruction, and every high and lofty thing that seeks to exalt against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5).
For those, that may find that at times they feel like they are not thinking straight if I can suggest something it would be to play God’s word on your phone or read. You can even do this while driving in your car and using Bluetooth mode. It will not only bring clarity to your mind but a sound mind 2 Timothy 1:7 “7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.”
Psalm 73:26
My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak, but God remains the strength of my heart; he is mine forever.
This journey is not easy, but God has carried me the entire way. Lean on him even when you find it hard in 2 Corinthians 12:8-11 The Apostle Paul wrote “8 Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. 9 Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses so that the power of Christ can work through me. 10 That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong”.
As I was writing I heard the Holy Spirit say to me to take a look again at the meaning of the word Sober and immediately I saw something that I had missed. It says “Having an exercise of cool dispassionate reason. As I finished reading this the first thing that came to my mind was the “Fruits of the Spirit” but one in particle having #SelfControl.
When Joshua died and I found myself at times becoming easily frustrated especially when having to deal with people questioning me about things that one should know example asking me if I was okay knowing I wasn’t seeing my child that I have raised for 18 years life was senselessly taken. If you remember in my past post called “Self-Reflection” where I spoke about how God had dealt with me about the way I responded to people and even went as far as to say one day that “it did not matter what was going on personally I had no right to be nasty to people. I say all this to say that if you find yourself dealing with the spirit of frustration pray the Fruits of the Spirit over yourself. This can be found in Galatians 5:22-23, But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentlenesses, and self-control. There is no law against these things personalize them as you speak to them over yourself. Below is an example of what it might sound like.
- I will demonstrate the fruit of Love
- I will walk in the fruit peace and bring it to every situation set before me
- I have the fruit of spirit when it comes to demonstrating self-control over my tongue and body not to do or say things that are not pleasing to God. I seal this prayer in the Matchless name of Jesus Christ.
Psalm 141:3
Take control of what I say, O Lord, and guard my lips.
In the King James Version, the word “Control” is written as “Watch”. When I looked at the word “Vigilant the first word that popped up was watchful; with the attention to danger and the means of safety.
Isaiah 52:1
Awake, awake; put on thy strength, O Zion; put on thy beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city: for henceforth there shall no more come into thee the uncircumcised and the unclean.
As I was reading that verse the Lord as me who do you think the author started off the verse by saying Awake, Awake I said probably because they were sleeping. To be vigilant and watch your eyes have to be open. One might say I am always aware of my surroundings making sure no danger is lurking. And my question to you would be are you looking with your natural eyes and thinking with your earthly mind or are you allowing the Holy Spirit to guide you while perceiving a thing for you?
2 Timothy 3:1-5
This know also, that in the last days, perilous times shall come. 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,4 Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 5 Having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof: from such turn away. Immediately after reading this God asked me how do you think someone’s character can change to this and I said not knowing your word nor having a relationship with your son Jesus.
Hosea 4:6
My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children
Lord, I am praying on behalf of your children and not because they need me but because I need them we are all in this together. I desire to see your will done in their life. Grief has caused so much pain in my life, I remember countless nights that I could not sleep pleading for rest to come. Somewhere, out there someone is experiencing this exact thing Lord intervene and do only you can do. Psalm 143:3 3 He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds. Demolish every high and lofty thing 2 Corinthians 10:5. Jeremiah 23:29 says Does not my, word burn like fire? Say the Lord, “Is it not like a mighty hammer that smashes a rock in pieces. Break it down Lord, shatter the lies that the enemy has spoken over your children until nothing but dust is left. When the dust appears blow fresh wind, separating it from the left to the right. For the parent that is home holding their child’s picture asking you Lord why? Just like you did in Luke 22:39 strengthen them, and bring a calmness to their souls that they have never experienced before. I seal this prayer with the Blood of Jesus.
Personal request: Speedy Justice Lord for Joshua’s case and any other murder case that has no closing to it. I need answers Lord, but I also pray for patience. Please continue to draw close to God and pray even when you feel like you do not have the strength to. Nothing is wasted and God knows our needs.
Songs of the Week
Thank you Jesus for The Blood by Charity Gayle
Worship Medley by Tray McLaughlin and SOZ
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