Day 306

It's Day 306 of  The Red Shoe Project and some things have "come to a head."  That's an expression used to describe when all the yucky stuff comes to the surface -- like a pimple!  GROSS!

My eyes were barely open.  I was still in bed.  I took a few minutes, regardless,  to worship the Lord and told Him how much I love Him!  The dream of yesterday's time together was still fresh on my mind.

Looking at the time, I picked up my cell and connected with my prayer pal.  Might as well get the prayer line going!  She showered me with bold and encouraging words!  She was holding strong with her own dilemmas and added mine to her list.  I wasted no time in throwing on my RED sneakers and headed out for an early prayer walk.  I was eager to hear from God on the matter.

  I did have an overwhelming peace.

 That's a GOOD sign!

I was about a mile from my house.  I had left the development and headed out into the real world to walk for a bit.  For a quarter mile, I'd be on a busy road with traffic, but soon enough, I'd be back on a walking path that's more subdued. It was the perfect prayer trail!

As I stepped off the curb to quickly cross the street,  BOOM!  down I went.  YIKES!   I don't know what happened, but there I lay on the main road, my knee bleeding and my ankle twisted.  Oh no!  I couldn't get up for the life of me, and the traffic light had changed to green.  There I was crawling to the sidewalk to get out of the way.   Looking back on it now... I can laugh, but at the time, it was a little scary.  I quickly assessed the situation.  The wind had been knocked out of me.  With that, I hobbled back to the development.  Perhaps I was meant to stay closer to home for the day?

I got home just fine, but by then my ankle was black and blue and the size of a baseball.  I situated myself on the lanai, by the pool, and wrapped my ankle with an ice pack.  There I stayed for the rest of the day... worshipping and praying, all the same.  It was a profitable time of prayer.  The peace of God surrounded me.

Regarding my personal dilemma, the Lord kept saying...

"Speak it out, Gail!  

Speak it into existence!"

And so, I did just that.  Between words of prayer and songs of worship, I called out the promises of God - not in hope that they will happen, but as if they already are happening!   I will continue in this fashion until I see it!

"...even God, who quickens the dead, 

and calls those things which be not 

as though they were."

Romans 4:17b  KJV

My prayer pal is doing just the same.  We are in one accord on this!  There's no way, I'm going to let her climb to the top of God's majestic mountain alone and get the victory.   How awful would that be for her to plunge in her personal flag of conquest on the mountaintop, while I retreated to the valley in despair, a loser?  Yeah... there's no way I'm going to let that happen.  We are in this together to WIN!

"If God is for us, who can be against us?"  Romans 8:31

"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."  Romans 8:37

"A three-fold cord is not easily broken!"  Ecclesiastes 4:12

"Pray without ceasing!"  1 Thessalonians 5:17

"To Him who is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us..."  Ephesians 3:20

What's this I found in the back of my prayer closet?  I do believe it's referred to as "Old Pentecostal Prayer."   Man... I haven't used this in decades!  I'm trusting it still works!!!

God must have something BIG in store

to pull this out of the closet!

This is a spiritual battle of great magnitude, but my friend and I are praying it down until we get the victory!  Old Pentecostal Prayer is the perfect weapon of choice!

In Red Shoes,
Gail

Day 305

Today is Day 305 of  The Red Shoe Project.  I was up and out the door in RED sneakers,  prayer walking, bright and early.  After that... it was a day of prayer and worship.  That's right... I said a DAY.   It didn't start off that way, but it ended up that way.  It all changed when the Lord said...

"Please don't go...  

Spend the whole day with Me!  

I'd really like that."

Really? I asked.

"Yes,"  He said, "Really!"

It's not like I had anything on my calendar.  I could do it if I wanted to.  There was no place I had to be -- No necessary appointments.  

Okay Lord...  

I will stay!"

I grabbed my laptop (for music), my Bible, my journal and a pen.  I sat on the lawn chair, in the shade, by the pool.  I stayed there, all day,  worshipping, chatting with God, and looking at scriptures in the Bible.  It was wonderfully peaceful.  God is the best company.  

I'm convinced I need to do this more often!

As I sat there quietly in His presence, with my eyes closed, the Holy Spirit put a song on my lips.  I had long forgotten this old favorite.  It was a delight to let it roll off my tongue.  Perhaps you remember it?

"I just want to be where You are...

Dwelling daily in Your presence.

I don't want to worship from afar.

Draw me near to where you are.

I just want to be where You are...

In Your dwelling place forever.

Take me to the place where you are.

I just want to be with you.

I want to be where you are

dwelling in your presence

feasting at Your table,

surrounded by Your glory.

In Your presence...

that's where I always want to be.

I just want to be... I just want to be with You.

Oh my God, You are my strength and my song

and when I'm in Your presence, 

though I'm weak You're always strong."

No shoes today,

Gail

Day 304

I had to laugh as I wore my RED shoes on this 304th Day of  The Red Shoe Project.  Several  of my "rubies" have asked me the same question:

"So do you actually have a 

closet that you go into to pray?

I've seen pictures online where people have converted actual closets into prayer rooms of sorts.   Interesting... but small!  I was visiting a friend years ago, and happened to look in a closet for something in his spare room.  To my surprise, I found a little altar with a cross, and lots and lots of candles.  It struck me as a little weird at the time.  Hey --  To each his own --  Who am I to judge?  My thought is this:  

If it works... Go for it!  

I can see why people like to have a little designated area that they can go to and pray.  That makes sense.  But if it's for show...  or if it's virtually unused...  Don't waste the space!  On the other hand, if you truly use the space -- if you literally, go in, shut the door behind you and pray --  more power to you!  Whatever it takes to get you going in, day after day, to converse with God...  I'm all for it!

My main prayer room is my bedroom.  I can easily prop up the pillows, sit back and pray comfortably.  There's a side table with a lamp,  inspirational books, and my Bible, as well as a sketchpad, journal and pencils.  My laptop is there incase I want to listen to worship music.  What's better than that? 

 I must admit, however, I don't sit on the bed for long.  It's too comfortable.  Most times I pace back and forth at the foot of the bed.  Sometimes, during intercession, I grab ahold of the bedpost, as if I were holding onto the horns of the altar.  I pray things out and don't let go until I sense a breakthrough! 

I like the venue of my bedroom for prayer because I can easily shut the door, cutting myself off from the rest of the household.  It gives me privacy to wrestle matters out with God.  There are no distractions there -- not to mention, that Pauly will lay comfortably, snoozing for hours, freeing me to pray up a storm.  If I try to sit anywhere, Pauly sometimes thinks I'm playing.  When I pace, He snoozes.  Other spots in the house are certainly optional, but generally speaking, they lack privacy. 

 I do have a second location for prayer. 

 I call it the "M. P. C."
- or -

The Mobile Prayer Closet

I consider all  "prayer on the move"  as  mobile prayer.   Prayer walking certainly falls into this category, as does praying in the car.  Over the years,  I've had some powerful prayer times while driving.  It's not as private as my bedroom, by far, but between tinted windows and earbuds, I'm totally inconspicuous. The issue of the past was that people would think you were a crazy person, talking to yourself, let alone praying, right?  But nowadays, with everyone constantly on their cell phones, no one knows the better.  Pray away!!!

There's a 3rd location I frequent often -- perhaps most of all!   

I refer to it as...

"The Prayer Room 

of My Mind."  

Wherever I am, all I have to do 

is shut my eyes, 

focus inward, and I'm there!  

Many times, over the years, I've been in need of a  divine conference  "on the spot" and there's no conference room available.  What to do?  The prayer room of my mind is open 24/7 and it's easy to access.  I may be in an elevator, a ladies room, the booth of a restaurant, a church pew, someone's living room, the movie theater, the grocery store,  the gym,  the park... you name it -- I just shut my eyes and I'm in!  It's that easy.  So you see, there's never an excuse not to pray.  

-- Please consider --

I want to leave you today with something very important to consider.  When I was young, I was married for quite some time to a minister who had a powerful anointing to lead worship.  One of the key observations I made of him in his gifting was this:  He had the ability to stand on the platform, close his eyes, enter into worship and at the same time, open the door for others to follow him in.  It was an awesome feat and he achieved it with ease.  The Lord told me the other day, that in the exact same way, I am able to walk into the prayer closet, and simultaneously hold the door open for others to follow.  That said, I want to encourage you to follow me in.

Don't be a mere observer.  

I'm inviting you to come with me!

In RED shoes, 

Gail

Day 303

Today is Day 303 of  The Red Shoe Project.  I popped on my Ruby Reds and headed straight to The Bonfire.

Yesterday, my time in the prayer closet was mobil. I already told you what God had revealed to me during my prayer walk... but there was more.  You probably remember that in regards to the financial provision I was seeking,  God said,  "It's taken care of!"

In case you haven't figured it out yet, I'm not so good when it comes to trusting God for my finances.  Oh... I've gotten better -- much better! -- but the fact is, I'm so darn self-sufficient, it's disgusting!

 Self-sufficient means...

Needing no outside help in satisfying one's own basic needs.

• Self-supporting
• Self-reliant 
• Self-sustaining   
• Independent 

SELF --  SELF -- SELF...
Just hand me a barf bag now.  I think I'm about to throw up!

I was almost in tears when God told me "It's taken care of!"  
"What's the matter?  Why are you crying?"  He asked

"Because I don't know what else to do?"  I responded back.

"That's just it - You don't do anything - I've taken care of it!
  Now you just wait for the Hand of God to move!"

We had a long talk.  Yes we did.  And when it was over I asked...
"If this is really you, Lord, what's the scripture?"
His response was immediate...

"Be still and know that I am God."

Psalm 46:10

I was brought up believing I could do anything as long as I was willing to work hard for it.  I've got a strong work ethic.  And there's nothing wrong with that.  In most cases, it's to be admired!  Unless of course, you find yourself in a situation in which God is asking you to trust Him completely.

So I'm waiting -- patiently -- believing I will see the Hand of God move.  I do believe the fight is out of me.  I hope so, because as long as I'm willing to keep trying to do it myself, God will let me.  I'm tired of trying!  For the longest time, even though my heart said,  "Wait for God!"  my mind said  "What else can you do to make this happen?"  

No more!  It's over!  I'm done!  

This fighter is down for the count!  

I know I'm going to look back on this and think... 

"That was so easy!

 Why didn't I just do that to begin with?"   

Some things are not so easy!  Unwinding... it takes time.  303 days to be exact!

In RED shoes,

Gail