The Power of Prayer: Lifting Burdens

Many times, we seek others to pray for us, longing for comforting words or just something to ease the tension we feel. We often find ourselves wishing someone would simply say something that can lift the weight of our burdens. Does this sound familiar to you?

But what if we could be the ones lifting the burdens of those around us? What if our prayers could bring comfort, healing, and hope to others?

When I reflect on these thoughts, the Holy Spirit gently reminds me of how He has already made provisions for us to address these needs. So, how do we approach this?

The Power of Prayer

The Bible tells us, "The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). God has given each of us the power to lift burdens. We are not merely existing—we are telling God's story with our lives. Our lives have purpose, and our stories are significant. God wants us to partner with Him to achieve His divine narrative.

To do this, we must learn to exercise our spirits through prayer and the study of Scripture to be able to lift burdens. This begins within our families, where we help carry the weight of our loved ones. But it doesn’t end there—we are called to also carry the burdens of our friends, communities, and even nations.

When the enemy tries to convince us that our prayers are ineffective or irrelevant, urging us to simply live life the way the world does, as if everything is already sorted out by the cosmos, we must resist. Prayer is powerful, and when we engage in it, our faith in the Lord deepens when we pray, go beyond the veil, and seek a place of revelation and divine wisdom. Faith is the currency we use to access the answers we seek.

In Revelation 3:20-22, Jesus says:
"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. To the one who is victorious, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I was victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne." (Revelation 3:20-21, NIV)

Jesus invites us to partner with Him, equipping us with everything we need to live victorious lives and make a lasting impact in the world.

The Impact of Your Prayer

What can your prayer do? What weights have you tried to lift? When we lift weights in the spirit, the Lord strengthens us, giving us the capacity and faith to bear them. If you’ve prayed for something and have yet to see results, don’t give up. Keep praying.

God is watching to see your surrender and persistence. As you press on, He breathes His power upon you, enabling you to live triumphantly.

So, wake up and exercise your spirit! Through prayer, perseverance, and faith, you tap into the strength God has already made available to you. 

Stay revived and watch how He works in your life, enabling you to carry the burdens of others and live out His divine narrative.

Dealing with God's Quiet Moments

 

Dealing with God's quiet moments can be challenging. While complaining to my sister about a certain experience, she shared this insight with me: "As long as we're praying and connecting with God, He gives us the strength to navigate each season." This resonated deeply and left a settling peace in my heart.

After my recent 5-day fast before my birthday, I had expected a word of confirmation from God; revelations like I usually have but instead, I experienced an unsettling silence. I began to worry and doubt: "Maybe God hasn't picked up my call." But then I shared my concerns with my sister, who reminded me of the importance of staying connected to God with the abovementioned words. 

Meditating on this experience draws my attention to these words in Psalm 91:1 

It says, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Highest shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." This "dwelling" means choosing to reside in God's presence, even when the weather is stormy. It's about staying connected and patient, trusting that God is working everything out for my good.

In those moments of uncertainty, I've learned to comfort myself with God's track record of faithfulness and the benevolence of His presence. 

Dwelling in a secret place and getting the benefit of abiding under God's shadow can only be achieved by staying and waiting patiently. No moment skipped or fast forward but seeing every joy, pain, hurt, betrayal, win, victory, and just being transformed or becoming into the one you dwell with. "Staying connected" is also a key to our victory chant and that way is what God wants for us. 

I'm choosing to stay in this posture, and I invite you to join me.

Stay Revived!

By Guest writer.

How do you react in the moments when you don't feel loved?

It's easy for the devil to limit our understanding of God's love to physical manifestations. When we don't see these manifestations, we doubt God's love. Our reality seems different from what we feel God's love should be. We search for proof, something to confirm His love.

While listening to the choir sing during worship, I had an experience. The next day after my birthday, I woke up feeling exhausted and joyless. The enemy whispered, "You see, God doesn't love you." Instead of shutting out the voice, I went to church feeling unhappy.

During praise the praise session, I just couldn't make myself to celebrate God's faithfulness but when the worship session began the choir sang, "You are good, you are kind, I have never seen your type, I am devoted to your praise, and forever you are mine." These words brought me back to reality – the reality of God's unwavering love. The words "I love you" felt fresh, as if poured into my heart again. I felt his love in those very moment. 

The love spoken about became clearer to me. It is not based on any physical possessions maybe: a good marriage, a good home, great kids, great jobs, peaceful existence or what have you. 

 He doesn't love us more or less depending on our situation. His love is constant, and He cares for us, keeping us safe. He promises not to fail us.

Remember, whether you feel loved now or are in a season where God's love seems hidden, insist that God loves you. Say to yourself, "God loves me, and I'm glad He thinks about me." All things, good and bad, work together for your good.

This we can truly say: 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." - Romans 8:28 (NIV)

Stay Revived!

By Guest writer.

How do we Manifest?

Some weeks ago, while sleeping, the Holy Spirit spoke these words to my heart:

"Who has been living, is it you or the scriptures? What has been breathing successfully in you? Because I have sent you to be living epistles, that is to come in the volume of the books that have been written about you. To be this living epistle, that is when you have come alive, the very moment I have come alive in you, living, breathing, and working in you. Be my living epistle."

I knew I had to write it down, or I'd forget once I got busy. Later, while preparing for my birthday, I stumbled upon these words again. I wanted a unique experience, so I decided to go on a three-day fast before my birthday. The Holy Spirit asked me to extend it to five days.

As I sought God for a brighter 28th year, He said, "Happy birthday" with these words:

"I want to do more than provide for your daily needs, give you excellent children, business, or career. I want to live, breathe, and move in you."

If we carry His breath, there's more He wants to do with the breath of life He's deposited in us. It's easy to focus on daily needs, but God wants us to be living epistles.

He's saying, "I need a container that doesn't just house My breath but also My presence, and together we can change a contradictory reality."

It's easy to say "God loves us," but it takes conviction to accept that God loves us truly, regardless of our love for Him or what we can give Him.

God loves you, friend, and wants to manifest in us. The most beautiful experience is to know that God is manifesting in you.

In those moments, we can truly say, "In Him we live, in Him we move, in Him I breathe, and in Him I have my being." (Acts 17:8)

Stay Revived!

By Guest writer.