As a servant of the Lord, we will go through the best of times and the worst of times. This is the reality of being in the ministry. There are times when your heart feels like it could absolutely burst with joy as you see someone come to the Lord that you have been praying for. Or you may finally see a dream come true that you have been believing God for… There are times that God blesses you with people who join you in the vision and you experience the most blessed fellowship that comes from going in the same direction together. Then there are those times when you go through the times of hurt and disappointment… When people start to attack you or your husband…and even try to take you down. During these times, we can start to build up great walls of protection. We can even attempt to vindicate ourselves in our own strength. We can even lose it and enter into the mess. One of the stories from scripture that has held me back all these years is about Moses. He had the most difficult job leading a people that were not loyal, that turned against him, that complained and often started a rebellion to choose a new leader. Whatever they were mad about, they blamed Moses. When they were thirsty and mad at Moses…again, God instructed him to go to the rock, speak to the rock and it would pour out it’s water. He said “You will provide enough water from the rock to satisy the whole community and thier livestock.” Instead of doing exactly what God said, Moses gathered all the people and let them have it! He said “Listen, you rebels! Must we bring water from this rock? Then he struck the rock twice with the staff and water gushed out.” (Haven’t we all felt this way?) But the Lord said to Moses “Because you did not trust me enough to demonstrate my holiness to the people of Israel, you will not lead them into the land I am giving them.” Moses forfeited getting to go into the Promised Land.
*This always brings the fear of the Lord on me…It keeps me from “letting people have it”… or chasing down every person who is attacking my husband or family…It reminds me that I need to try to demonstrate the holiness of the Lord. God will eventually shine His truth into the situation. He will vindicate better than we ever could. I think about the critical spirit that we all have had to deal with… and know that it is not new. Poor Moses had to deal with that for the entire time he led the children of Israel. *During these times of leadership in ministry, may we take our place in dignity. May we trust God to protect and vindicate us. May we not be shaken… May we not build walls or become cynical. May we be so full of faith in God that we believe His promises over our circumstances. *May we stand firm proclaiming the truth that “Greater is He that is with us than he that is in the world. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper… This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and their righteousness is of Me,” saith the Lord.”
*May we be confident in God… and His plan for us.

“Dear Lord, As we come to You today.. Please clothe us in your strength and dignity. May we be so confident in You and Your plan that we are full of faith and not fear. Help us to demonstrate Your holiness in all that we do and say. May people look at the way we handle blessing and adversity and see You guiding us. May we always be led by Your spirit and not by our critics. We rejoice because You are always good and whatever we have to go through on this earth is nothing compared to what You went through to redeem us. We are grateful that You have called us and that You will continue to use us in Your plan. We are your servants…and You are worthy.”