February Newsletter 2019
Do Not Lose Heart
Do you have someone that you are worried about? Someone that you feel has gotten on the wrong path in life and is headed for trouble? Maybe it seems they have never been on the right path to begin with. No matter what the circumstances are, you are worried that they may not experience every blessing God has in store for them in this life?
Well…that was me. I was worried about my sister in the Lord, Sherah. Not too long after I had gotten married to George in 2015, I learned that Sherah had left her Gospel believing church and joined an occult faith.
My heart was ill. I remember calling her shortly after I had heard this news. She was happy with this new walk she had chosen and she gave me all the reasons she was certain that this was the way the Lord wanted her to go. Not only was my heart ill, but my stomach was not feeling too good either.
She explained to me what she had been praying for and that one day these people arrived and she believed that it was an answer to her prayers.
I did not want to argue with her because I thought she truly knew better but, I did tell her, “Sherah, I would not be a good friend if I did not tell you that I do not agree with the beliefs of this faith.”
It was obvious she had made up her mind. I thought, “Lord, she is so deceived.” I knew the only thing that would help her is prayer. So, I started praying for her.
Time went on and once in awhile I would bump into her at the grocery store. She would quickly explain to me how happy she was with her faith and that she just knew this was God’s plan for her. I would stand there and listen to her with one ear and be listening to hear something from the Lord with the other ear, hoping the Lord would give me something to say to her, but it did not happen. So…I was not led of the Lord to say something and I remained silent. I was afraid my personal opinion would drive her to remain in this faith so if the Lord did not give me something to say I was not going to say it.
Years started to go by and during that time I would see once in awhile what she was posting on facebook. I was hoping to see some little sign that maybe she had left this occult faith but no, it did not seem that way.
Then one day, sometime in August of 2018, I was in the grocery store and I walked past an aisle and I saw Sherah, her back was towards me so she did not see me. My first thought was that I was not going to go talk to her because I did not want to hear about how much she liked her faith but I thought, “I should say hello.”
Sure enough, she gave me a long list of every reason why she had made the right choice in her faith. I thought, “She is working really hard to convince herself that she has made the right choice.” I asked the Lord, “What would you have me tell her?” and… I heard nothing. I did the only thing I knew I could do for her, pray. Right there in the grocery store I prayed out loud for her. I do not remember all that I prayed for her but I did pray the Lord would give her His spirit of revelation, spirit of wisdom, and understanding.
Ephesians 1:17 (New American Standard Bible)
that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.
I like to pray this prayer for others as well as myself. The Bible says in Proverbs 4: 5-9 (New International Version)
5. Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them.
6. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost you all you have, get understanding.
8. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.
Based on these scriptures in the Bible, revelation, wisdom, knowledge and understanding are very vital to our success in our walk with Jesus.
Leaving the grocery store that day I was very heavy hearted. Once I got in the car I started to plead with the Lord, “Please help her. She is so deceived. Fight for her, Lord.”
When I got home I told George what had happened and how discouraged I was.
But Then God….
Five months had passed, it was now January 2019. On a Sunday morning in church, George and I were just going to walk into the sanctuary for the service when I heard someone yell my voice. I looked to my right and there coming out of the sanctuary was Sherah. She was so happy to see me. She said, “That day you prayed for me at the grocery store, I went home and left my occult faith! I went home and thought, “What am I doing? Why did I tell her all those things? Thank you!” We hugged each other and I busted out crying. Sherah said, “Oh…you’re crying.” I said, “I have been praying for you.”
She continued on to say, “That day in the grocery store when I saw you, something just hit my spirit like a hammer. I got home and realized that I was trying really hard to convince myself that I had made the right decision.”
I prayed for a spirit of revelation, wisdom and understanding for her that day in the grocery store and she got it. Apparently there was something about my presence that day that convicted her and that is why she proceeded to give me a list of why she believed she had made the right choice, because she needed to convince herself.
During those five months since I had prayed for her in the store she got herself planted in a Gospel believing church, and wanting to live her life for Jesus!
I thank the Lord that I chose to say hello to her that day in the grocery store. There is no greater joy than to know that you are being used for His glory!
We are so excited for Sherah and we know God has a plan for her life and we can not wait to see how He uses her.
So…do you have someone that you are worried about? Someone that you feel has gotten on the wrong path in life and is headed for trouble. Maybe it seems they have never been on the right path to begin with. No matter what the circumstances are, you are worried that they may not experience every blessing God has in store for them in this life.
Don’t give up on them. Pray for them. Even if it seems fruitless and nothing is changing for them. You do not know what God is doing behind the scenes.
Your presence in their life,
even if only for moments,
could help alter the course of
their life for Jesus.
Do Not Lose Heart.
Stay the Course.
This is my desire for you.
Psalm 119: 1-8
(The Message Bible)
- You’re blessed when you stay the course, walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
- You’re blessed when you follow his directions, doing your best to find him.
- That’s right – you don’t go off on your own; you walk straight along the road He set.
- You, God, prescribed the right way to live; now you expect us to live it.
- Oh, that my steps might be steady, keeping to the course you set;
- Then I’d never have any regrets in comparing my life with your counsel.
- I thank you for speaking straight from your heart; I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
- I’m going to do what you tell me to do; don’t ever walk off and leave me.
I pray the Lord will bless you with His spirit of revelation, wisdom and knowledge.
The Lord’s understanding be upon your life. May He use you for His glory and may He bless the desires of your heart.
I pray He gives you strength to stay the course the Lord has laid out for you and that you will be led by His Spirit in everything you do.
I pray you give Him thanks in all things and that you will bless many by your hands.
May good words and kindness be the hallmark of who you are.
In Jesus’ name
Amen!
In His Service,
George and Lorraine Halama