Book Review: Fervent by Priscilla Shirer

Greetings Friends,


Today I wanted to share a read with you, the book Fervent by Priscilla Shirer.  Periodically, I will review a book and give my honest opinion on it, so here it goes.

Fervent was released alongside of the motion picture, War Room in 2015. In today's climate of uncertainty, this the perfect time to reacquaint ourselves with the power of prayer.

This book gives the feel of an intimate meet up with your older sister.   Priscilla draws the audience in by her warm conversational style. A very easy read, the text implores you with passion to return to the Lord and fight!

From the first chapter you are whisked away in conversation to the battlefield. Priscilla's words act as a firm push in the right direction without condemning or guilting you into action but more of a voice of reason that provides clarity and reminds us of the importance of prayer and God's true role in all of this.

"We have an enemy", it is one thing to say that but another thing to truly know and live like it.   No matter if we fight or not, the enemy is trying to destroy us.   Priscilla uses scripture throughout the read to bring truth and illuminate the pathway back to fervent, intentional prayer in the midst of war!

Pick up your weaponry ladies, this read it worth it.  The book is broken up into 10 strategies that address major areas that paralyze us.

Strategy #1: Your Passion

Strategy #2: Your Focus

Strategy #3: Your Identity

Strategy #4: Your Family

Strategy #5: Your Past

Strategy #6: Your Fears

Strategy #7: Your Purity

Strategy #8: Your Pressures

Strategy #9: Your Hurts

Strategy #10: Your Relationships

This book is rich enough for the seasoned Christian to be reignited in prayer and simplistic enough to draw in someone curious about the faith.

Personally,

This book was a sweet reminder and confirmation. Recently, the Lord reminded me that I am not fighting like I used to and how desperately I need to get in position to succeed spiritually. The first time I read the book, I read the hardcopy but this time I listened to the book on Audible so I could hear the words and let them soak into my core.  It was a great refresher.

At the end of each chapter you were challenged to apply what you learned and immediately pray- I loved it.  The instant call to action, eliminated the excuses if you truly received the information in your heart.

Thanks Priscilla, for being candid and transparent. You spoke to my heart and revived my love for battle.

Now excuse me, I'm going to war.

Libby

Alignment and Refinement

Hey there,

What have you been doing with yourself lately?

I must admit with the state of the world being on pause with many quarantined, I have been thinking a lot about my foundation.

The heat of today's climate revealed that I have some structural issues.

It's funny because I feel like I live in a perpetual state of repentance, always on the search for truth.  I used to feel guilted about always being at Jesus's feet searching for truth- now I have learned that you are deceived if you are not.

I don't know about anyone else but I am grateful for this time of reflection and quiet.  I chose to maximize my time while on pause and felt that I am getting a much needed reset.

Redirection

A reminder, anyone else agree?

The message was clear to me to check my foundation and make sure that it is fortified.  Get clear with God and ensure that I am hearing Him clearly.

I need to major in the majors.

Live a holy life.

I need to check my character, search the scriptures, and stay in a place of prayer.

I need to be available for the Lord to use me for His glory- beyond my comprehension.

I need to stay in prayer and in the presence of God- allowing space and room for open communication.

I need to take that power into my everyday life.


Real power, a death to the desire to be more than God requires. The ability to pass on being "someone" here on earth and be only who He wants me to be- whatever that looks like.  An internal agreement to the ordinary to allow God to be Himself, extraordinary.

This is a challenge for me because if I am honest with myself, I wanna be great.

Real greatness is death- murder to what I want-the desperation for validation and acceptance. Having that place of emptiness satisfied.

I have to trade in that burning for a cement like faith that  believes that 1 Timothy 2:4 is true and that our all powerful God deeply yearns for us to come into the knowledge of the truth and be saved. Finding trust and peace in His character, consistency and love.


I thank Christ that He bridged that gap for us.  That beyond our mistakes and internal struggles He is faithful to forgive and fill. Lord we give all of ourselves to you. We wanna real know you in this lifetime and know by your Word that it is your desire as well. Help us not be consumed by the noise of the world. Clear our eyes and ears and will us with you as we seek you. As we develop, thank you Holy Spirit for being living, active and a constant reminder of Your love for us. Help us drown in you, transform us God as we soak. Expand us to deeper depths and higher heights. Give us a sound mind that clings to your ways. Allow us to reflect your light as we die.

Be seen in us God.

In Jesus' name I pray,


Amen

P.S. Rest in Him in these times of uncertainty friends,  get established in the Lord.  Trust in the process friends and let all around you burn that is inauthentic.  We are in this together, let's get solid!

https://youtu.be/UGFCbmvk0vo

Be still and know He is God- and THEN be obedient!

Hello Friends,

I am at it again, moving in haste.  For some time I knew I was suppose to move and begin writing again but the second I started, I just kinda jumped in and forgot that I'm not steering this ship anymore.

So after a long phase of nothing, I wrote a blog, meaning that after years of being paralyzed, I just kinda jumped in the deep end and I just thought I could resume swimming but quickly after I jumped in, I realized that the current has changed and instead of the shallow end I'm used to, I found myself in the ocean.

As I wrote an arranged a blogpost yesterday, I found myself struggling for air and picked up this weight that was pulling me down like an anchor- and I found myself at it again, human effort. As I moved in myself, I was helpless.


So I stopped again

I stopped writing

and tried connecting.

Connecting the dots and connecting to God.  So I feel led to let you know that as I develop a buoyancy and walk in obedience to this thing, my largest commitment is to God.

I will write but I will be led, focused and available.


Like a game of Uno, God threw out the reverse card/ my life vest- I saw it clearly, "Go back and do what I told you".

Study

Mediate

Share

So excuse me while I refocus and sit in the book of Jeremiah for a while, I believe something is there for us.  I am not going to approach this blog nor writing haphazardly anymore but make a commitment to be intentional about the path that I'm on. I believe the same for all of us.  With the real captain at the wheel we will have true fulfillment.


Lord,

Help us make you Lord over our lives and allow you to steer the ship. Help us grow in trust and wisdom.  Protect us from outside factors that speak haste and quick movement but allow us to be at peace knowing that you know all.  Forgive us for ever moving without you and thank you for quick correction to stay the course.  Help us all grow together.

In your matchless name I pray,

Amen



Friend know that its ok to begin again..........and win!

Slowcooked Salvation- What are you doing with what God gave you?

Hello my friends,

It as been years since I have posted. To be brutally honest, a sharp criticism of the blog had me stop posting all together and question everything. The discouragement led me to think, why write anyway? I questioned myself, about how many mommy bloggers, lifestyle bloggers, Christian bloggers can exist in the world?  Surpassing that, the women that I admire are simply dynamic.  It's crazy to think that I could share space or have a seat at the table. Comparison crept in and took up residence in my heart.  I went from being so passionate about the art of writing and reflection to total defeat by mere words.



You know my friend, it's funny how a simple comment can drive a dream into the dirt, like a coffin never to see sunlight again.  It was Elementary, I allowed the words of an acquaintance to strip me of community and connection to God.  How stupid!  Months ago I would have probably been ashamed of all the time that I believed was wasted as I left my writing on the back burner but after years of living and soul searching I have realized that you can always pick up where you left off and sometimes better than before.  I am a firm believer that God knows every aspect of our lives and if I believe that truth I must believe that He is omniscient and truly knows all.  He foreknew that comment that would derail me and every moment that would follow.  He knew how long the journey back to dreaming and back to Him would be and just like Hansel, he left breadcrumbs for me knowing that I would find my way back one crumb at a time.

Since I stopped writing a lot has changed,  I am a wife and a mother of a blended family- 3 bonus adults and 2 preschoolers.  I can honestly say that nothing has made me want to pursue God more than family.  We will get more into family and daily life as we walk on this journey together but for now, let's sit and talk about dreams.

Dreams.........

They start so small but when ignited, they are like little sticks of dynamite that can take out an entire mountain.

Dreams can be so sacred that we hide them from the world hoping that no one stumbles across our treasure until we are certain of what to do with it.

Dreams inspire us to live bigger than we ever imagined and can take us right to the doorstep of success.

Yet the human mind and heart can sabotage itself  by comparison and the desire to manufacture the dream before its correct timing.


In life, I am learning that the best things in life are like pot roast, yes, pot roast. Pot Roast takes hours to be made in the slow cooker and each ingredient is added at just the right time, at just the right temperature for a taste like no other.  It's crazy because when I prepare pot roast usually it is being prepared for the next day.  I can anticipate the meal but if I cut corners to eat it that night, I would have forfeited the process that would give me the result I desire.  Simply saying friends that short cuts  don't work so let's enjoy the process and be optimistic that the dream isn't dead, it's just marinating or slow cooking until we are ready to approach it the right way.  You would be surprised at what the Lord will teach you in the so called "wilderness experience".  It's the place where faith is birthed- and regardless of how traumatic the delivery, the birth of the baby makes everything a distant memory.
What have you neglected or forgotten about?

What dreams have you put on the back burner?

Today I want to inspire you friends to take a step of faith and grab at the breadcrumbs that God has left for you.  Pick up where you left off and watch God work in this place. Let me pray for and with you.


Lord,

Thank you for your love and consistency. Thank you for your long-suffering and patience with us.  God we come humbly asking for your forgiveness as we left the valuables for the enemy to creep up into our minds and try to steal the dream. I thank you that you are greater and mightier than can even comprehend and that you are an all powerful God that isn't moved by the inconsistency of your children. Please show us the way and reignite the fire that ice burned and this time with newfound wisdom and knowledge. Let the gifts, talents, and passions developed all be used to bring you glory and reflect your unfailing love. Thank you Jesus, please give us an appreciation for patience (the art of slow cooking) as we marinate on your Word and rest in your presence.

In Jesus's name I pray.

Amen.


What are you going to do with the dream?