My Mom Is With the Lord

You may remember my telling you about my brave little mom's battle with cancer. Today she is in heaven, having made her journey home on the morning of January 24. I will be forever grateful to God for granting my sister and I the amazing honor of being with her during her final moments.

As you would imagine, this week is filled with enormous responsibilities as we prepare to celebrate her life with family and friends here in Florida and in Georgia, where she will be laid to rest. Please permit me to suspend my postings for this week. We'll get back to our regular schedule next week. Do remember my family in your prayers.


Brenda J. Davis is editor of spiritledwoman.com.

HERE, READ THIS!

Those of you who regularly read Charisma magazine already know that editor J. Lee Grady can be counted on to always deliver insightful, prophetic, cutting-edge commentaries on the church and Christian living. When I took a look at a pre-publication version of his latest online column, I thought, All of you need to see this.!

That said, I hereby defer my space this week to my esteemed colleague’s brilliant recap of the events that took place recently at a gathering of prominent Charismatic leaders. It will definitely serve as focused instruction for prayer and will give you a greater understanding of the issues that leaders in the Spirit-filled community are confronting right now.

www.charismamag.com/fireinmybones/Columns/011808.html


Brenda J. Davis is editor of spiritledwoman.com.

Secure

"Leaning, leaning, safe and secure from all alarm." These words were sung in our church every single Sunday when I was a child. I'm sure I was as thoughtful back then as I was able to be at that time, but these words mean so much more to me today.

Now that I've lived a little, I have a far better understanding of why it's important to find a place of safety. This world can make you feel quite threatened, but one really great thing that happens when we focus on God is that we become more aware of His absolute protection. We know beyond any question that He is at all times focused on us.

Look at this passage as it appears in The Message: “My choice is you, God, first and only. And now I find I’m your choice!” (Ps. 16:5).

Oh hallelujah! With all His awesome responsibilities, it’s astounding that God has made Himself so accessible, so present with every one of His children. In times of consecration, this becomes even more real. Each one of us has a tremendous inheritance that God has secured for us. He is our inheritance. Press in and possess everything He has promised!

Brenda J. Davis is editor of Spiritled Woman.

The Counsel of the Lord

"I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken" (Ps. 16:7-8, NIV).

Even though you've set aside this month for a special time of consecration, I'm sure you've noticed that life goes on. In fact, it's not uncommon for life to become even more intense due to your heightened sensitivity to spiritual things. You are certainly not alone if you find yourself thinking more deeply about life and, well, just about everything. Nevertheless, there is no better time to focus your heart on the Lord than now.

What have you noticed so far? Right away, I am almost amazed at how alive God's Word has become. Prayer seems to have taken on an ease that I don't experience always. Faith comes with less effort because God Himself is becoming more and more present and real in my understanding.

If you have not undertaken a fast of some kind or other discipline yet, be encouraged. There is no reason why you can't begin today. Let the Lord guide you as to what is not only desirable but necessary in order to prepare you for what's ahead.

We don't dare take on this life without God's strength undergirding us. He knows the way we are going and the circumstances we will have to face. He wants us to be ready and equipped with His Word and the power of His Spirit.

Praise God for His counsel. This month lean in close, listen and let me know what happens.

Brenda J. Davis is editor of Spiritled Woman.