June 28, 2010, "It is our glory to overlook an offense"

Proverbs 19:11, Micah 6:8, Isaiah 61:3

I do not know where to begin. What I will say though is I am blown away by the faithfulness of God!

This is a follow up of the testimony of God and what He did and showed me after the accusation that I wrote about in my last post.

The things I received after writing the devotional were these words:

* "I Am your Defender"

* Protocol, learning to represent as a daughter of the Most High God and King

* Opportunity to pray for the accuser

* Don't ask, "Why me, Lord?" Declare, "What can I learn from this? Thanking God for the opportunity for growth."

As I prayed that evening for the accuser, I realized it was like a balm to my soul, my mind. In the midst of the prayer; the compassion of God came over me.

The next morning I awoke with a heaviness; despairing over the words spoken. I was out of bed and with great fervency, I lifted up my arms and said, "Lord, I need encouragement from You! Lord, from You! I don't want words from another person that You can utilize, I want to hear from You. Lord, I know I'm being selfish, but I must hear from You!" As I desperately cried out, I was standing next to my bed. I looked down at the nightstand and was reminded of Lisa Bevere's book, "Be Angry, But Don't Blow It!" I picked it up and shuffled through the pages finally opening it as my eyes fell upon Proverbs 19:11. I put the book down and literally ran to the Bible opened it to Proverbs 19:11 (Amplified) and there it read, "Good sense makes a man restrain his anger, and it is his glory to overlook a transgression or an offense."

All I can say is that I was overwhelmed with the Oil of Joy that replaced my mourning

(Isaiah 61). At that very moment, I heard in my spirit which ministered to my soul (mind), what is it that I require of you Teresa? And immediately was led to Micah 6:8. I spoke it forth, "Lord, this is what you require of me, to do justly, to love kindness and mercy and to walk humbly before You God."

The more I was being ministered to by the Word, I was simultaneously experiencing this love covering (banner of love~Song of Solomon 2:4) taking place in which the wrong that had just taken place the day before no longer effected me in the least. I was literally experiencing this untouchable power! What came to my mind in that moment of this experience was Psalm 91:7, "a thousand may fall at my side and ten thousand at my right hand BUT it shall not come near me."

Wow!!!! Isn't that awesome? That is our God...our Shield, our Protector! I shake my head with a great big smile knowing and being reminded yet again how awesome my God is!

As I went to church and continued to pray for this young woman, I realized even more so the anger and hurt on the inside of her that she has not dealt with. Compassion for her began to overflow as I realized what was taking place...I was abiding in my God and as He is constantly overflowing, that overflow was affecting me and in turn was effecting her as she was unknowingly being prayed for.

Did my mind feel like praying for her? Absolutely not. My capacity to be mindful of her in this way is not of me or in my power. The tools that God has provided to lean on Him are already within me...on the inside readily available...His Divine Nature on the inside of me! I didn't have to pray for the tools, I needed to stir it up by being humble, putting away how I was wronged and letting it be made right by the Righteous King!

The amazing part was God utilized our pastor to speak on "The Place of Prayer". He gave many examples throughout Jesus' life where He found the place to pray. For example before He chose the twelve disciples He went up to the mountain and all night He prayed (Luke 6:12). He then spoke of Paul and Silas as they were in shackles imprisoned (Acts 16:13-31). They took the opportunity of the prison to make it a 'place' of prayer. The shackles upon their bodies became the place of prayer and praise. One of the essential keys he pointed out was that the other prisoners were LISTENING! I realized and was reminded at that moment, that opportunity of offense became my 'place' to see God come through. The offense became the 'place of prayer'. And the offense became an opportunity to become a platform to proclaim the awesomeness of God as there are many who are watching and listening, whether I know it or not!

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!! I can't help but shout; for as Paul and Silas were freed; I was freed from the bondage that I could have fell into; and that I had fallen into! With God's delivering tool of obedience; I am here to testify of God's glorious testimony in the midst of the test!

What did I learn? In terms of protocol, be a daughter of the King! Rise up, don't sink below. When false accusations come; act like royalty, not like a desperate survivor. What would royalty do? Just what Jesus did, He did not speak a word in His defense...for He knew He would have the last word because of His Father The Defender! Jesus prayed, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." That must be our prayer.

Jesus revealed His complete trust in His Father. Most importantly to get to that place, I see that the trust was revealed through the intimate times of prayer with His Father God.

Jesus leads by example, and we must follow His example for the results are always LIFE! For He is Life! When we are going through 'stuff', we must not grow weary by what we are passing by as we go through! We must grow in God's strength knowing what He is bringing us to as we go through!