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Thank you so much for your concern (and prayers) for me after you read Thursday’s blog entry. God reached down and definitely pulled me up. Your kind texts, emails, and calls are cherished.
What do I do when I am in a situation like this? When I find myself face first in the bag of Oreos, chips, or wandering aimlessly in the kitchen looking for something…anything, really…?
Music is something that God has used to reach out to me. Music bathes my mind with his truth. I have to pick the right music, of course. I literally have taken a song and played it over and over and over again so that I get the words going through my mind ALL the time–on purpose.
I want to be able to say “I can’t get that song out of my head.” Especially when it has words like Mandisa’s Lifeline song. Look at these words–a prayer to God:
Here I am
Drowning in a sea of my own choices
Holding a hope by a thread
Yeah
I’m looking round, I’m calling out
Fear pulls me down
When the waters rush over my headChorus:
You are my lifeline
You are my rescue
Strength in my weakness
Light in my darkness
You are my safety
Lifter of my head
The air that I need when
I can’t seem to breathe in
You are my lifeline
You are my lifelineHow many times
How many turns
Will it take till I learn
You reach for me in my need
Yeah
And when I cry
I know that I’ll faithfully find you
When life comes crashing on meYou are my lifeline
You are my rescue
Strength in my weakness
Light in my darkness
You are my safety
Lifter of my head
The air that I need when
I can’t seem to breathe in
You are my lifeline
You are my lifelineYou’re there in my brokenness and my distress
My rock when I’m strong or when I’m powerless
You hold me in rushing tides when waters rise
And I’ll always findYou are my lifeline
You are my rescue
Strength in my weakness
Light in my darkness
You are my safety
Lifter of my head
The air that I need when
I can’t seem to breathe in
You are my lifeline
You are my lifelineYou are my lifeline
You are my rescue
Strength in my weakness
Light in my darkness
You are my safety
Lifter of my head
The air that I need when
I can’t seem to breathe in
You are my lifeline
You are my lifelineWriters: Kevyn Gammond, John Pasternak, Michael Chetwood, Francesco Nizza, Paul Lockey
Copyright: Sound And Vision, LLC
When I am backed up against a wall, when I am emotionally drained, when I am angry and know that I need to give a heartache and my response to it to God, sometimes, all I can do is listen to music. Songs like this one wash over me again and again. I do that on purpose. Some might call it brainwashing, but when it is TRUTH, I think that is a wonderful way of changing my thoughts to be pure. I use the words like these, then, for my meditation, as a prayer to God, adding my own words. I end up waking up during the night with these words on my mind, too! It is an awesome way to invite God to renew my mind, to change my thinking. HE is WAY bigger than any memory of my past or any heartache in my present. WAY WAY bigger.
By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8
Here is the song so you can enjoy it. I hope that it transforms your thinking, too.
To buy this song on Amazon, click here.
To buy this song on iTunes, click here.
What do you do when you struggle with a spirit of heaviness, anger, sadness or some other emotion that attempts to control you?
Beautiful!!!! Thank you for sharing! And I agree, what a way to wash your brain. 🙂 Have a blessed Sunday!!
Thanks, Dalena. 🙂
Dearest Heidi, You have no idea how God has used you this past week. The enemy may have come after you through circumstances, but you are back on top. I have had a great week b/c of Jesus in you and am on Day One of Thin Within. Judy and Arthur are right, God has endowed you with incredible wisdom from above and He is changing lives through you. Be encouraged, dear sister. I am 9 pounds lighter since last Sunday when I found you through His prompting. Like Max Lucado says in Woodcutters Wisdom, we can’t judge one day and call it bad or good, it is just one day! We can’t judge one book but just one page, we must read the whole book. Only God knows what will be accomplished through our struggles. It would have been so easy for you not to share your “binge” with us, but you did. Thank you for your transparency. THIS is something God can use, authentic Heidi. You are back on top and ministering, don’t keep your eye on the storm, but the one who rules them. Thank you for being a blessing. I won a $75 1st place weight loss challenge at Jazzercise b/c of you and God’s amazing Grace!!!!! He truly is our Lifeline, you are the rope and He is the thrower of the rope!!!!
Debbie! WOW!! Congratulations on a wonderful week and accomplishment!! And what wisdom you show, giving credit where credit is due. Aren’t we all blessed to be together on this journey of ours with such wonderful, incredible women.
Hi, Debbie. Thanks so much for your very kind words. God has used you to encourage me so very much today. Wow…that is a HUGE release of weight! I bet your heart is singing! That is awesome! Thank you for your encouragement. It is worth it if it can help someone else. CONGRATS one winning the gift certificate, too! WOOT!
Thanks Dalena and Heidi,
Yes, my heart is singing and I am feeling freedom that I have never experienced, so you could say my Spirit is soaring too. I know dark clouds will come, but the Body of Christ is awesome. When one is down, the other soars and it picks the down one up………..and vice versa. Right now, it is fun being a cheerleader!!!!
Good morning every one,
I’m already applying this now…the old devil just doesn’t give up! dealing with loneliness and sadness and hurt of being misunderstood by people…being rejected! : /
Here I go again Lord Jesus, I have ben around this mountain before. Time to pick up my sword and fight the good fight of faith and not give in or give up! As the devil will have it! NO! I will not lay down and die! In Jesus name I will arise up on wings as an eagle and fly, fly, fly high above the clouds, the currents of the winds of this life. I will ride on wings like an eagle. My God is greater than my emotions and greater then the power’s of Satan. No Foe can stand up against my God Almighty…Lying spirits they are and must be put to silence in my mind, in Jesus Christ name. Amen.
The book of Ephesians chapter 6:10-18 tells me where these evil entities are coming from and how to deal with it.
10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].
11 Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil.
12 For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere.
13 Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place].
14 Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God,
15 And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace.
16 Lift up over all the [covering] shield of [c]saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one].
17 And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit [d]wields, which is the Word of God.
18 Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people).
Taking captive my thoughts into the obedience of Jesus Christ and casting down all vain imaginations and every thoughts that exalt its self above the word of God. In the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Have a blessed day today every one, and let us pray for one another as we are all facing different challenges in this life. : )
Mathew 18:19-20 AMP Bible
19 Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and [c]everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven.
20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I Am in the midst of them.
Jamie,
Just remember you are already “accepted in the Beloved” and He really is the only one who counts. Just rest in that fact. I have recently been freed from being a “people pleaser” and it is so much easier to focus on God loving us, unconditionally, no matter what.
Amen!
Thank you for sharing the Lifeline song, Heidi. I listened and cried – needed to cry. I’m going to order Mandisa’s “What If We Were Real” CD, which includes Lifeline. Thank you, Jamie, for what you shared. Three lines in and I started to cry again because I totally identify with what you said. I’m having a very emotional day. It helps to come here and read what all of you are posting.
Our kitty, Babie, is nearly 17 years old. She has kidney disease, arthritis in her back legs, and is on chewable meds for a thyroid condition. Her meds have been as tasty to her as her Temptations, never a problem to administer until recently. Now she is refusing a second favorite flavor and we have to force her tiny little mouth open to get her meds into her – so awful. She’s eating and drinking little, choosing to sleep about 22 – 23 hours per day. She has always slept with me until the past two or three weeks. When she’s awake, she seems mostly in a daze, staring off into thin air. It’s heartbreaking and we’ve had to face the fact that we’re losing her a little more each day. Oh, and she’s now not sure that she likes Temptations anymore. If you have cats, you know how much they love Temptations.
Thanks for “listening.” For a while now, I haven’t had anyone close to talk to about how I feel. My husband isn’t a Christian, so I can’t talk with him about my relationship with Jesus or my difficulties in forming or maintaining lasting friendships within the body of Christ. Today, My Lifeline is my lifeline.
How is Babie doing today, Sheila? If you do a search here at the blog, you will find my stories of my horses and dogs. God uses my pets so profoundly in my life. I totally understand how precious our furkids are to us! Big hugs your way.
Oh my goodness. I hope no one misunderstood what I said. What you all have shared today is just what I needed to hear. That’s what I meant when I said this is my lifeline today. I too need to take my thoughts captive and give all that I’m thinking and feeling to Jesus, instead of downing too much food.
Thank you, Heidi, for some amazing tools. During the past hour, I’ve prayerfully read Psalm 139, made a God List, and had a Praise-Fest praying to our Lord what He revealed to me about Himself in this wonderful psalm. I wrote entry #1 on my gratitude list, thanking God for a wonderful late afternoon and whole evening so different from the first half of the day. Our Babie was social, aware, took her med and treats gladly, and we enjoyed this special time with her so much and with gratitude. After my late night time in Psalm 139, I’m smiling – not trying to and it’s not going away. “In His presence is fullness of joy.” I’m am going to bed now bathed in His love and peace.
Oh wow, Sheila. That sounds awesome. I love that you just can’t shake that joy! Thanks for your kind words, too.
Wow i cant tell you how much this speaking to me! I started the thin within and there has already the enemy throwing things at me! I cried and bought the song as well. I am a music person as well. I used to lead worship and have not been doing it for a while. I find that is the time a praise and in prayer and longing for more of Him. I believe God has been calling back to his talent he has given me that i have buried for several reasons and wounds attached to them. I am blessed with two jobs i feel God has called me to, and a wonderful husband and a beautiful 3 year old son. My work is giving a lot out emotionally and spiritually. I thank you this has been helping in my walk closer with Jesus. I know that only God can draw us closer to himself, but i thank you for being an instrument he is using.
Hi, Sara. Thank you for your kind words. I lead worship and I still remember the pain of disqualifying myself from the worship leading because I felt I shouldn’t be up there if I couldn’t be a “better example.” That was believing a lie from the pit of hell!