Sit back, relax and be encouraged. The season 5 finale episode of Balm for the Soul with Tammy Nicole Glover podcast is now available. https://anchor.fm/tammy-glover/episodes/Daughter–Come-Forth-e1iivhu
Apple of His eye
Before I was formed in my mother’s womb.
Chosen to be His daughter
Destined to serve in His kingdom
Even though He knew I would turn my back on Him.
Fighting to go my own way
Giving in to the lusts of my flesh
Hope faded.
Indescribable pain took residence in my heart
Jeopardizing my eternity.
Keeping my sins hidden left me exhausted
Longing for death, but still longing to be loved.
Moving further away from Light
Not wanting to be seen or heard.
Opening myself to more depression
Purposefully cutting myself off from life.
Questioning, why am I here
Remembering a blessed life with Christ.
Safety, I want to feel safe in His arms again.
Tortured by my past sins, I fear I will never be able to return to Him.
Used and abused by the demons that held me captive
Voiceless
What can I do to escape? I weep and He hears my silent cries
X-ray vision probe my heart. Seeing a heart marred with scars and infested wounds
You, Lord, know how to clean and heal me. I return to You, my Rescuer, my Savior.
Zealously, I will follow You.
“They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair on their heads singed, their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.” Daniel 3:27 NIV
Dear Future Self,
So, another problem popped up and threatens to overcome you. Don’t panic! You’ve been through this before. It may be a different problem that looks bigger but God has not grown smaller, nor has He changed. He is still the Lord God Almighty, who has promised to never leave you nor forsake you. He is still the God who promised to supply all your needs according to His riches in glory. Don’t forget His commandment for you to be strong and courageous. Don’t be afraid or discouraged. He is with you. (Joshua 1:9)
My beloved future self, don’t doubt God’s love you. He has not removed His mighty hand from you. Surely, you can remember how He delivered you from the last crisis. He not only restored you but He placed you in an even better position than before. You were so blessed that you were able to help those around.
Dry your tears and be of good cheer, for Heavenly Father sees all and will answer your call. God is good, faithful and full of endless love and mercy. Now, is not the time to have a pity party. It’s time to praise God for your victory.
“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:2-3 NIV
“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their hearts but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.” Mark 11:23 NIV
I woke up this morning with a mountain so huge that when I sat up, I hit my head against it. I don’t know exactly when or how it became so huge but I know I can no longer ignore it. I’m tired of looking at it. I said to the mountain, “you make me sick.” It still sat there, unmoved, while I became physically ill. I was too weak to try to climb the mountain so I decided to go around it. Unfortunately, I discovered that my mountain was far too wide to go around. I had to face it head on, but how?
I know I have faith that is at least the size of a mustard seed. I know what God’s Word says and I believe. Why won’t this big, stupid, ugly mountain move? I cried out to the Lord for help and I heard Him say, “speak My Words.”
Once again, I face the mountain and I say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. God has not given me a spirit of fear but of peace, love and a sound mind. I forgive others as God forgives me. God has provided for all my needs according to His riches in glory. I am fearfully and wonderfully created by God. I am a new creation in Christ. By Jesus’ stripes, I am healed. God has not forsaken me nor has He left my side. God loves me, I am His child. No weapon formed against me shall prosper. I will praise the Lord at all times.”
As I speak, I feel a renewed strength grow inside me. I can still see the big, stupid, ugly mountain but now I can see a God who is bigger and mightier. I can see His angels encamped around me. I feel the power of the Holy Spirit inside of me. I’m ready to tell that mountain to move in the mighty name of Jesus, and the mountain moved.
“In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.” Romans 8:37 NIV
“You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.” Matthew 5:3 MSG
You have big problems in your life. You’re feeling overwhelmed, confused, frustrated and lost. Some of you may even be feeling as if you are at the end of your rope and if you don’t get some relief immediately, you will not make it. I ask you, how long are you willing to allow your circumstances to beat you down? How long will you allow yourself to remain stressed out? Have you truly forgotten who your Heavenly Father is?
Let me remind you that your Heavenly Father is God Almighy. He created the universe. He is the same God that led the Israelites into freedom. He is the same God that parted the Red Sea so that they could flee from pharoah’s army. He is the same God that protected Daniel in the lion’s den. He is the same God that heals sickness. He is the same God that sent His Son to die for you. He is the same God that rose Jesus from the dead. He is the same God that loves you. He is the same God that sees your struggle and has compassion for you.
His hand is waiting to lift you up but instead of reaching for His hand, you ignore it. You grab a hold of the very things that have been tearing you down. Do you really believe that He is unable to help you or are you too prideful to ask for His help? Do you refuse to go to him because you doubt or do you think you are unworthy of his help?
Please, listen to me, God is big enough, powerful enough and He loves you enough to see you through whatever you’re dealing with today. The same God that knows exactly how many hairs you have on your head is the same God that is patiently waiting for your call. When He hears his children cry out to Him for help, He moves swiftly. He will not allow his children to be bullied. He will give you strength, wisdom and favor. You don’t have to know how He will do it, you just have to trust Him and believe that He will provide whatever you need, when you need it. Stop magnifying your problems and recognize that God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly above all that you could ever imagine or think.
“With your help I can advance against a troop; with my God I can scale a wall.” Psalm 18:29 NIV
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.” Psalm 28:7 NIV
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him and he will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6
Step back, take a deep breath and listen closely. You can not go through trials and tribulations by yourself. You were never meant to go through them alone. The Lord did not mean for you lean on your own understanding. You were meant to lean on and trust in Him.
You were shocked and confused when the storm hit but God is never shocked. He saw what was coming well in advance. He’s not surprised when illness strikes, when a job is lost, when a family member is struggling with an addiction or when a financial crisis hits. He knew when it was going to happen and how to fix it.
Stop praying and asking God to deliver you and then pushing Him aside. Miracles can’t happen without Him and they can’t happen if your faith is placed in yourself and not in Him. Step aside and let God take the lead. He will open doors that you never knew existed. He will move and leave skeptics speechless. You are never alone. Don’t let your pride, fear, doubt or yourself stop you from receiving your breakthrough.
“Now this I know: The Lord gives victory to his anointed. He answers him from his heavenly sanctuary with the victorious power of his right hand.” Psalm 20:6
“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33 NIV
Some of us are wondering where our blessings are but if we look at ourselves we will realize that we haven’t done what God has called us to do. We have been waiting on God when He has been waiting on us to move. There are a lot of us that know what God has called us to do, yet we haven’t started. We want to do it and we have good intentions to do it but we find excuses not to do it. We let fear rule instead of our faith. Some of us have just flat out chosen to ignore what God has called us to do. We can’t see how what He has called us to do is important or relevant. We are comfortable where we are and we don’t want to put forth the effort to do anything anyway. Then there are some that don’t know what God has called them to do and aren’t trying to find out. They’re way too busy being led by the cares of this world.
Please, listen to me when I tell you that if God has called you to do something it is important. He has already blessed it. Yes, you will have to work. No, you won’t be able to do it on your own but then again you’re not supposed to. Do you realize that when we ignore God’s call, we are not only being disobedient but we are being selfish? God’s calling on your life is not about you. It’s about being a blessing to someone else. You are walking in love when you answer His call. Someone is in desperate need of whatever God has called you to do. Some of us are the product of someone else being obedient to God’s call. We may have found out about Jesus because someone was obedient enough to tell us. Our lives may have been saved because someone was obedient enough to pray for us. We may have been encouraged during a difficult time because someone was obedient enough to encourage us.
Answering God’s call is not something to take lightly. God’s call on your life is vital. If you are a believer, you are a soldier in God’s kingdom. We all have our parts to play. We are one body made up of many parts. If one part of the body isn’t working then the whole body is weakened. When one part is blessed then the whole body is blessed. Don’t miss out on your call and miss out on your blessing.
“Therefore my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” 1 Corinthians 15:58
“I am the bread that came down from heaven.” John 6:41 NIV
He is my sun in the rain. He is the sanity in my crazy. He is the right in my wrong. He is the common sense in my stupidity. He is the wisdom in my confusion. He is the hand that catches me when I fall. He is the joy in my pain. He is the calm in my chaos. He is the healer in my sickness. He is the protector in my recklessness. He is the light in my darkness. He is the courage in my cowardice. He is the confidence in my awkwardness. He is the supernatural in my natural. He is the comforter in my loneliness. He is the balm that soothes. He is in the words I write. He is the air I breathe. He is the reason for living. He is my past, present and future. He is the gift to my soul. He is in me. His love surrounds me and his light shines through me. Who is he, you ask. He is Jesus, my Lord and Savior.
“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12 NIV
“Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him.” Psalm 37:7, NIV
I was walking along, enjoying the sunshine and picking up the beautiful flowers along the way. It seemed like the perfect day. It started to get cloudy but I didn’t let that stop me from enjoying the day, I kept on going along my path. I knew something was coming but I refused to worry about it.
I started to see fewer flowers along the way, which was a disappointment. I had started to look forward to their bright colors and intricate designs. Despite the disappointment, I kept on going until I tripped over a fallen branch. I had a few scratches and a bruised ego but nothing major. I just got back up, dusted myself off and kept on walking.
I heard wolves and I became distracted and scared. I was alone in the woods with bloody wounds and I was sure the wolves would track my scent and devour me. I had to find a safe place to hide. I started running away from the sounds of the howling wolves but they seemed to be surrounding me. I could see their glowing eyes watching me through the trees and bushes. I stumbled once again and fell into a deep pit. I tried to grab on to anything I could to stop my fall but to no avail. I hit the hard, rocky bottom. I was so far down that I could only see a sliver of light peeking through the top. I tried to climb out but only accomplished making myself weary and my finger tips raw and bloodied. I called out for help and I heard a strong voice answer back, “I’m here and I’m going to get you out.”
I was thankful but it just didn’t seem like the voice above was working fast enough. Oftentimes, there were long periods of silence and I thought that he had left me. I panicked and called out to him until I was hoarse. The voice always came back and let me know that he was still there, working on my rescue. He promised to never leave me. I knew that I had to remain calm and be patient. I kept the promise of rescue in my mind and heart. Eventually, the light from above became brighter and brighter and I could see my rescuer’s hand reaching down. I knew that it was going to be ok.
Life is a lot like this. We start down a path that we know God has set us on. We enjoy his anointing over us and his blessings along the way. Small issues arise but we press forward. We stumble and fall but we get back up. People who don’t want to see you succeed show up and we become distracted. We allow fear to overtake us. Sometimes we fall in a dark pit and we feel like there is no way to escape. The Lord your God is always with you. There is no problem that he can’t solve. He is the rescuer. There may be times when you feel like he has left you during your troubles but He is still there working on your way out. He hears your cries. You just have to remain calm and be patient. Help isn’t on the way, it’s already here.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” John 14:1, NIV
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” Philippians 4:4 NIV
I have a secret weapon. It defeats my enemies. It tears down walls. It loosens chains. No matter what circumstance, I am always armed.
My secret weapon is praise. I praise God when I’m happy and when I’m hurting. I praise God when I’m among friends and when I’m surrounded by my enemies. I praise God for success and when I’m rejected.
I know it seems strange to some when I lift my hands and rejoice with tears in my eyes and I look defeated. They don’t understand the nature of my weapon. When I praise the Lord, I am trusting Him to take care of me. I am acknowledging the fact that there is no problem greater than Him. As an added bonus, I’m confusing the enemy too.
There is no special skill required to use this powerful weapon. All you need to do is say, “thank you, Lord. I know that you are almighty. All things are possible with you.”
Now, the next time the devil attacks, have faith and take out your secret weapon.
Balm 4 the Soul 