He never ceases to amaze me.....

I've sobbed for the last week over circumstances beyond my control.

Things changed this morning.

Once again, as He always does, God has shown up and sent encouragement into my life in three different ways this morning.

I mentioned in this post that some friends put together an awesome gift basket for me before my surgery. In that basket was a book of daily devotions. This was today's:

Break Strongholds

For the weapons of our warfare are not physical [weapons of flesh and blood], but they are mighty before God for the overthrow and destruction of strongholds,...and we lead every though and purpose away captive into the obedience of Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One.) 2 Corinthians 10:4-5

The Bible teaches that Satan tries to build strongholds in our lives. One way to identify the strongholds in your life is to watch for repetitive situations that pull you down in spirit. We all know inside when something is not right in our life or is getting out of control. If that happens to you, seek God early to find out what is going on. If a negative behavior becomes repetitive, that is a signal that Satan is building himself a stronghold in your life. God will destroy the devil's stronghold within you, if you draw near to Him.

The second thing that I was blessed by was this. I really appreciate people like Kelly who have struggled and after God has answered their prayer, don't forget what it was like to walk that path. Although she is now married and has been blessed with a beautiful little daughter, Harper, she hasn't forgotten the long, painful road that finally led to the blessings she is now enjoying. Take a moment to follow the link from Kelly's blog. You will be blessed...I promise. Don't look at it and think it doesn't apply to you because it is about having children. We are all hoping for something in our lives and this message is so encouraging. (You may want to listen when you aren't going to be expected to answer a phone or anything.....People walked by my desk and saw me boohooing and we won't even talk about what the people I spoke with on the phone were probably thinking!)

Each morning I have certain blogs that I read without fail. There are others that I don't always get around to reading. I realized this morning that it had been a while since I had read MaryBeth Chapman's blog and caught up. I knew exactly why when I read this post from August 22. God always knows when to lead you to something. The quote at the end by James Hudson Taylor sent me into more sobbing fits:

"May this be your experience; may you feel that the Hand which inflicts the wound supplies the balm, and that He who has emptied your heart has filled the void with Himself."

This morning I am trusting God for the strongholds Satan has on my mind to be broken, for my hope to be continually renewed and for His presence to be felt with me at all times.....even when things are bad. He will fill my voids with Himself....what a promise!

Blessings to all!