Thoughts of a Thankful Heart Blog

12/31/2018 0 Comments

Resolving to Spend More Time in Prayer with God

Every year people across the world make resolutions about weight loss, finances, etc. While all of that is great, I have decided to make a different resolution. This year I am resolving to spend more time with God in prayer. I am resolving to up my game and utilize my war room like never before. I am resolving to get on my face and seek God because honestly, I cannot do this life with Him.

The past year has been full of ups and downs for me, in fact; the last couple of years have been a whirlwind of ups and downs. From moving to Minnesota on a journey of faith to finally finding a place to live, to releasing that place only to be on the go again, then to finally settling into a place only to be attacked on every side after getting settled. From my health to my finances, it’s all been under attack. The last few years left me battle-worn and along the way I allowed myself to get sidetracked in my fight. I figured out that I left my number one weapon behind and I knew I needed to go back to get it if I was going to win these battles.

For me, it was not that I left prayer behind completely, but I certainly did not use my prayer life to its full capacity. Partially because I was weary from the previous season and partially because I believed a lie. I believed the lie the enemy told me that my prayers were not good enough because they did not sound like this person’s prayers or that person’s prayers. I lost a lot of the confidence I had even after making such a huge faith leap in my move to Minnesota. The enemy was taking his best hits, and I was on the ground feeling defeated, but that’s the thing about feelings – they often lie to us too. I was not defeated, and I had not lost the war. God heard my prayers and I had proof; real proof! I had to find my voice in prayer again and debunk the lie because I knew God not only heard my prayers, but He answered them as well.
While the last couple of years were challenging God reminded me that He not only kept me but restored back to me everything I lost in the previous seasons. He not only put me back where I was before I said yes, but I am better now because I am able to see clearly for myself the healing God has done, is doing, and ultimately will do to make me the woman He wants me to be. I’ve taken the enemies kicks and taunts, but no more. God’s reminders were like a trainer telling me to GET UP, it’s time to fight for real! It was like his Words were a hand up for me to stand on His reminders helped me to be ready to fight the good fight of faith again. I decided this year, and I am resolving again to get on my face and do the work because I know that my fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and wickedness in high places. I won’t win those fights talking or wrestling with my hands, but I will win them in prayer.

Today, if you saw yourself in my short testimony, please do yourself a favor and resolve to spend more time with God in prayer. He has so much to show us, tell us, and give us in prayer, but it will only come when we resolve to seek Him. I heard someone say recently that everything we need is in the seek (the mighty, relentless pursuit of God). I am determined to do everything in my power to seek him both in prayer and in His Word. And thankfully, our God does not grow weary at hearing from us, in fact, He LOVES it! So, let’s resolve today to seek Him for ourselves, for our families, and for our world. Let’s see how much better things can be on the other side of 2019 if we commit to ourselves to the seek.
If you need some more motivation and a way to journal your renewed prayer season, pick up my book How to Journal Your Prayers and the prayer journal Don’t Stop Knocking, Don’t Stop Seeking, Don’t Stop Praying, Don’t Stop Believing! For a limited time, you can purchase the set for just $20.00. And if you have specific prayer needs or need someone to pray with you, reach out to the Minnesota Prayer Hotline we'd love to pray with you!

Happy New Year!

Blessing to you Prayer Warriors,
Liela

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11/24/2016 0 Comments

Moving Day!

I woke up that morning, Election Day 2016, knowing that I needed to fast. I needed God to move and I needed answers, so I decided to turn over my plate and pray throughout the day even though I was going to be at work. We arrived at the Super 8 the night before for either the 4th or 5th time and had lugged our suitcases and bags from my cousin’s truck to our room. By now, I felt like the people at the front desk knew us and while it was nice to be known, I was ready for the hotel hopping part of our journey to be over. I was very thankful for God’s daily provision, but I was also ready for this season to be over.

The Saturday before, we went to visit a beautiful lake home that we could move into with very little notice. The home was fully furnished and even included dishes, utensils, and beds for us to sleep in. The only thing that stopped us from taking possession of the home was the money for the 1st month’s rent and security deposit. Since I had just started my new job the week before, I knew that I would not have it on my own until the end of November. In October, I applied for emergency assistance with the county to help us with the security deposit and first month’s rent of an apartment. When I applied, I was still looking for a place so our application was on hold. Before we went to see the house, I called and let the county know that we found a place. Even though I only saw photos online, I believed that everything would go well and that God would not let this beautiful place get dangled in front of my eyes only for me to find out it was not what I thought it was. That Saturday, I fell in love with the lake home and I was ready to move in, but I still had not heard back from the county so we had to leave and go back to the hotel.

That Tuesday, when I decided to fast, it seemed like everything that could go wrong was going wrong. We woke up at 4:30 in the morning so that Malachi could get to school on time. We needed to take 3 buses from the hotel to his school. We got on our first bus with no problem and for some reason the bus took an alternate route that dropped us off on the highway (it is the weirdest thing but Minnesota has bus stops on the highway). The stop was named the same, but instead of getting off on the street where we’d gotten off so many times before, we had to get off on the highway. What I did not realize at the time was that we needed to go down and get to the other side of the highway to get to the second bus. We ended up missing the second bus and there was not another bus going that way until the afternoon, so I ended up taking him back to the hotel so that I could go to work. I was frustrated, tired and cold. We walked down the stairs from the highway and as we walked the three blocks to the bus that would take us back to the hotel, Malachi fell and hurt his hand and we were both at our wits end. After he got up, he said he was OK and I cried. I was done and I just wanted this to be over. When we arrived back at the hotel I left Malachi there with specific instructions and I left the hotel again so that I could take the bus to work. I arrived at work on time and I was thankful that the events earlier didn’t prevent me from getting to work on time, but I was wiped out and ready for a nap. I grabbed a cup of coffee so that I could keep my eyes open, but I continued to fast from food through the morning.

I sat in training at work trying to keep my eyes open and learn all that was being taught to me. I was also attempting to keep my mind stayed on Jesus. About 11 am, my phone rang and it was a representative from Hennepin County calling about my application for emergency assistance. I was finally able to talk with them a short time later and I was told that my emergency assistance application was approved and payment would be made to my new landlord for the security deposit and first month’s rent. My landlord agreed to let us move into the house that same night. I was so excited and thankful and my entire countenance changed.

That afternoon, I sent a text to my friend Jackie and she agreed to take us to our new home when I got off work. I felt like I was on cloud 9 the entire afternoon and I was so thrilled to be finally moving into our home. It was like a whirlwind, I remember very little of what happened at work that afternoon because I was so ecstatic about moving into my home. Everything seemed to be happening at lightning speed. I arrived at the hotel, we grabbed our luggage, bags, etc. and we headed to our new home. I signed my lease and we were in, just like that. I could not believe how quickly this all took place, but I was so thankful that I was able to sleep in my own bed.

After nearly three months of hotel hopping and living on blind faith, God showed up and delivered exactly what He promised and more. I wanted to live on the water, and God delivered a home on the water for less than I could have ever imagined. I was so thankful that He heard my cry and my prayer and provided just like He said He would. If God is telling you to do something, whatever it may be, obey Him and let Him lead you. It may not be easy, but nothing worth having is ever easy but it will always be worth it.

In Faith & Love,
Liela

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Resolving to Spend More Time in Prayer with God

Moving Day!

Liela Marie Fuller

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