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I am so excited for this Summers Tune In Thursday Guest Blogs! Y’all, are in for a special treat, as we have some very special guests joining us over the summer each week.
Today’s guest is Kelly R Baker. Kelly is passionate about equipping us to grow and thrive spiritually. I just love this about her! I’ve never met her face to face, but you can tell a lot about a person from their writing. Kelly is genuine, she has a heart for people, and she loves God whole heartedly. Kelly has a way of taking a hard topic, and making it practicable and easy to access the spiritual truth of the matter. I know you will be abundantly blessed by Kelly today.
Thank you, Kelly, for encouraging our hearts today at Tune In Thursday. I encourage you to leave comments below for Kelly, and check out her brand-new challenge to spend time with God. Plus, don’t forget to link up your posts below.
Enjoy and Blessings,
Debbie
Creator of the Daily Time with God Challenge, Kelly R. Baker is passionate about helping you seek God daily and thrive. She serves with her husband in leading the worship ministry at their church and is a Bible study author for HelloMornings. She would rather be writing or watching chick flicks than shopping any day.
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http://kellyrbaker.com
http://twitter.com/kellysinging
@KellySinging
When You Need Support to
Bear 3,000 Problems
By Kelly R Baker
Where do you run for support when problems come? Technology makes garnering sympathy from friends immediate. I confess, one of my first thoughts is, Which friend can I text for some prayer cover? Sometimes, I don’t look for God’s support until the weight of too many problems become unbearable. I need to run to Him first!
My family is dealing with a stack of unwanted problems right now. Knowing they won’t resolve themselves unless someone works on them, I tend to roll up my sleeves and attempt to fix them all. It’s easy to focus on those problems entirely instead of relying on God.
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David’s Support
They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. Psalm 18:18 ESV
David testified of God being His support. He penned it on the day God delivered him from when King Saul chased him with murderous rage. Saul commanded 3,000 troops to search for David (1 Samuel 24:2). Can you imagine 3,000 enemies chasing you? Because God said you are going to be king? He probably wished for more comfortable living in the palace when he had tasty food, a more accommodating bed, and peaceful days.
When David and his men were hiding in the same cave Saul went to relieve himself, his men whispered to take his chance—kill Saul on the spot. He had ample opportunity to kill him but he didn’t; instead, he cut a piece off Saul’s hem. His guilty conscience reproached him. David honored the king’s position of authority even when Saul wasn’t acting worthy of it. When Saul left the cave, David and his men followed him.
In the presence of all, David showed Saul honor and proof that he spared his life. Saul responded in tears, overcome with David’s kindness, and made a dramatic about-face before returning home:
“And now I realize that you are surely going to be king, and that the kingdom of Israel will flourish under your rule.” (1 Samuel 24:20 NLT)
In verse 15 of the same chapter, David said his deliverer is God. That’s why when it was all said and done he could testify that God was his support (Psalm 18:18).
Was that the end of David’s problems? No, he still needed to go through some difficult experiences before God said it was time for him to be king. But what a testimony!
God Is My Support
I may not have 3,000 troops after me, but sometimes it seems like I have 3,000 problems. (Exaggeration makes me feel better. Ha!) I start praying for solutions:
“God, I need the wisdom to deal with this problem. It’s taking time, energy, and money. I’m spent, too….”
And then I trail off because my heart wants to implore God wrongly:
“Why are you letting this happen? When are you going to change things?”
And there it is: I’m tempted to change from seeking Him for wisdom and pouring out my heart, to complaining and blame shifting.
But God is my support. What I need to pray are His promises:
“Father God, it is a comfort to know you are near me when I call on you. Thank you, Lord, for working my problems together for my good. Help me to grow through them as I rely on you. Give me the wisdom to know the best solutions. I am trusting you—no matter what it looks like. You are directing my paths. You are my help and my strength. I praise you for your faithfulness!” (Psalm 145:18; Romans 8:28; James 1:3-5; Proverbs 3:5-6; Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 138:2.)
And just like that, the weight of my problems roll into His capable hands.
God Is Your Support
Do you currently have any stressful problems in your life? We tend to run to those closest to us for support when problems arise. Do you want God to be in your closest circle? Then spend time with Him daily.
Do you struggle to meet with God daily? I created the Daily Time Challenge for anyone who might need help building the habit of spending time with God consistently. Take the challenge, and run to God as your Support. He will cause you to thrive in ways you never thought possible.
Click on the picture to visit Kelly’s Challenge
Again Welcome and Thank you for joining me for #TuneInThursday it is an honor to have you here!
I have had a few people ask for a badge/button to display on your blogs. I would absolutely be honored if you would display it, or link back here in some way. Thank you!
Now let’s get this party started, feel free to link 1-3 posts:
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Do you wonder if God still speaks today? Do you wonder if He would ever speak to you personally? Do you long to hear the voice of God in your life?
Have your read other books on hearing from God, but long for hands on practical application? or are you looking for ways to move you forward hearing from God?
If you answered YES to any of those questions, then I have exactly what you need. I now have an online e-course designed to equip you in understanding that God still speaks today, and He longs to speak directly to you, through His word, and others. He longs to encourage you, strengthen you and comfort you. The training on this site, is fully based on Scripture, and taken from my training manual Releasing God’s heart through Hearing His Voice.
I have been teaching these classes internationally for the last 10+ years equipping and training believers in discerning the Ways God speaks. God is speaking, Can you Hear Him?
2. My new membership site, d2htrainging.com has official opened, I invite you to check it out today, and develop a deeper relationship with the Lord, as you learn to hear Him speak to your heart.
Looking for other Great Inspirational Parties. Click Here to see where I Link-Up weekly.
Several Submissions have been featured at Blessed Transgressions, an Online Magazine:
Balancing the Warrior & the Princess We’re Called to Be
Trusting God When it Seems Illogical
Will You Sit with Me? (Jesus is Calling.)
My Post “Climb Every Mountain” was featured in the August monthly link-up at : Life on Intention Link-up Party
My Post: The Power of your Story was featured here:
My Post “What’s in a Name?” was featured here:
My Post: “Will You Sit with Me?” was featured here:
My Post: “The Journey through Change” was featured here:
Again, I have been know to link to the following Inspirational Parties:
Debbie, thank you for this incredible opportunity to share my words on your site! And I truly appreciate your kind description of me. *tears* When I think of you I think “strong woman of God.” You are a blessing to many and I pray your reach goes far and wide! Btw, I hope it won’t affect anything, but ironically, I’m having some technical problems with my site. Tech support is on it but I guess I’m having to practice what I preach. 😉
You are most welcome Kelly! And thank you so much for your willingness to take the opportunity to share your words here on TuneInThursday – you are such a blessing and thank you also for your kind words and I totally receive your blessings and prayers! 🙂 I see that you are up and running on your site already. I can so relate to that myself. It seems the tech issues always arise when we need them to not be an issue. So blessed by you today! Thank you again for being here today.
Kelly, thanks for turning my eyes to the faithfulness of God in the life of an OT character and in your own life. What a treat to find your words here today! (And I think it’s fun that I wrote about David here last week, and here you are with more on his God-supported life!)
How sweet of you to say! And, Yes! Remember I mentioned how much there is to glean from his life. I think he’s my favorite.
Michele – isn’t it great how God orchestrates these things so perfectly. At the time I had you both scheduled, I had no idea what either of you were going to write about, I love it. God makes all the best plans and He fits them together perfectly. 🙂 I was so blessed to have you share last week and thank you for your faithfulness to be here each week linking up. Blessings to you.
These words so brought me strength to face the stress of today. I am so grateful that He is our support in all things, for all of our days. I have been reading Psalm 18 for days and I so love and appreciate when God works this way to confirm His Word to us. Thank you Deb and Kelly for bringing a needed word! Blessings to you both!
That is awesome, Joanne! I *love* it when He brings confirmation. Many blessings to you, Joanne!
Oh Joanne – I am so glad Kelly’s words brought strength to you today to face what lies ahead! God always has a way of giving us just what we need, when we need it the most. I am praying for you right now and as God brings you to mind throughout today. Blessings to you.
Thank you Debbie for the party, and thank you Kelly for your wise words today. I can relate to the “stack of unwanted problems” you write of and I’ll admit, I often want to text a friend before seeking God. I can’t wait to go over and take a look at your daily time challenge. I have a daily method of meeting with God and I don’t know where I’d be without it. You have me curious now about yours. Blessings to all.
It is easy to run to what we can see, the flesh and blood in front of us, rather than an invisible God. Sometimes my problems seem so much bigger but getting in the Word always brings perspective. I hope you’ll click over and check it out, Patricia!
You are most welcome Patti! And yes, go check out Kelly’s challenge 🙂 I know exactly what you mean too… I don’t know where I would be if I did not have my daily meeting time with God.
Dear Kelly, years ago I heard Joyce Meyer preach about our tendency to “go to the phone instead of the throne” when we have a crisis. What a paradigm shift! Thank you for your gentle reminder and encouragement that our best course of action is to go to the One who knows the problem, the answer, and what’s best for His child.
We do have that tendency, don’t we? Yet, if we only want the best we will find it in Him first. Thanks, Alice!
Oh Alice, I like that phrase from Joyce Meyers thanks for sharing! It is so true. I often say, we usually run to those we see and hear in the here and now (Flesh and blood) when in reality we need to run to the King of Kings – God eternal ! But her’s rhymes so much better LOL thanks for stopping in today to read Kelly’s post and share your thoughts.
I absolutely love reading this on Thursday mornings. The week has progressed and so has the stress, but these words always help!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Debbie’s site is always a blessing, isn’t it, Jodie? I’m praying for you. Stress is not fun at all. Actually, let me just say a prayer for you now. Father God, I lift Jodie to you. I ask You to fill her full to overflowing with your peace. Envelop her in your love today. Let her see more of You and Your hand moving in her life. I pray there would be no adverse effects of stress on her body. Thank You that You are her joy. In Jesus’ name, amen!
So glad to have you here every Thursday morning Jodie! Praying the rest of the week is a stress free one!
Whew! We just returned from our big summer trip and so now I’m trying to get back into the groove (& climb laundry mountain!) Hope you have a great rest of the week!
Piles of laundry is always the bummer upon returning, isn’t it? Blessings to you, Lisa!
Oh man, welcome back. I so understand trying to get back into the groove of things after being gone for awhile or even a few days. I hope your trip was a fabulous one and that you conquer laundry mountain today!
a friend just texted me for prayer cover and she is running for cover in His capable hands. great post – so often we whine and cry to someone before the Someone who can actually do something about our hurts/burdens. Meeting w/ my mentor in 20 min – she always directs my heart to His. Thanks, Kelly.
It is good to have both God and prayer cover/support from His people. God uses His people for sure. Sometimes we bypass Him, though. I know I’m guilty! I have allowed others to take His place. You’re right, He’s the One who can actually work and move on our behalf. Thanks, Sue!
Sue – it is so very comforting to know that even as we trust in God to cover us as we run to the safety of His arms, that others have our backs in prayer. So glad you have a mentor that speaks into and encourages you as you are doing the same for others. You rock. thanks for being here today.
Why is we sometimes we simply don’t run to His cover? I’m certainly guilty. I mean, do we really think we can slay the 3,000 alone?!? The Lord has been taking me by the hand as of days recent, showing me the way. We serves such a faithful God. Enjoyed your post, Kelly. You go, girl, keep trusting! Debbie, thank you for offering space. #chasingcommunity
Oh, how I love His faithfulness! Thanks for joining us, Kristi!
Kristi, that is such a good question that I know I asked too. I know that is the place I need to run to, instead of others things, and yet, it hasn’t always been the first place I ran too. But AMEN! God is so faithful – always! You are most welcome for the space here and I am so glad you could join the community here today.
If we can just get these truths into our hard heads it would make day to day living easier and realizing that “doing the next” really is what God wants us to do!
“doing the next thing”
Amen, Susan!
So true Susan, so very true! Just one step at a time doing the next thing is all He asks us to do. 🙂
David was such a strong man of virtue. Not many would have foregone the opportunity to kill their enemy on the spot. So much to learn from him! And 3000 enemies…I don’t even want to think about it. ha. I’m grateful we can rely on the same God that he did for our own support. Thanks, Kelly!
Lisa, you are so right, there are not many of us that would have let an opportunity like that pass us by, especially when it came to our enemies. David definitely took the high rode that time and many other times as well. So glad you enjoyed kelly’s post 🙂
Hi, Lisa! Yes, so much to glean from David’s life. I’m thankful we can learn from his experiences instead of having to go through them! Have a wonderful weekend!
Thanks for hosting. Have a blessed week!
thanks Marilyn – you too 🙂
Very true. Something that I had to learn over the years. Thanks for making sense of it more for me.
Thanks for hosting and have a wonderful weekend.
Patrick – you are most welcome, have a fabulous weekend yourself and it is a lesson I have learned over the years too and in some cases, I am still learning. 🙂
Good, Patrick! I think the more we hear the truth the more it is solidified in our hearts. Have a great weekend!
Kelly, I love the narratives and psalms of David. Of seeing first hand a man who waits for God’s timing and keeps himself humble and fully trusting God. And so very thankful God takes every one of our burdens on Him. Good stuff!
Lisa, thank you for stopping in today to read Kelly’s post, I think it is good stuff too. I too love the stories of David and the psalms he would sing/write to the Lord. Not just in the highs, but in the lows too. I sure hope to have you visit again in the weeks to come 🙂
Thanks so much, Lisa! David’s high character and heart after God brought him far. Yes, God is so good…all the time. 🙂
Kelly- thank you for the reminder to turn to God when those problems keep coming and make us weary and overwhelmed! Your Daily Challenge sounds amazing and I know God will bless it:)
Julie – so glad you enjoyed Kelly’s post, and I completely agree with you about her challenge – I know it will be blessed by God and many lives will be touched greatly. Thanks for sharing with us today.
Thank you, Julie! If it helps even one person then I did my job. 🙂
I love all the stories of David – I think we can all relate to him at some point. Although I might not have 3,000 problems at once like he did, it can often feel like it!
I am big believer of praying the promises. His Word never returns voic!
void!
Oh Jerralea -love your name! I can so relate to not having 3,000 problems, but it sure does feel like it sometimes. You are so right – His word never does return void – in fact, I have a video blog tomorrow about all his promises are yes and amen – because, if He said He would o it, He is faithful to complete it. Thank you so much for commenting on Kelly’s post today!
Amen to that, Jerralea! I love that verse! Thanks for reminding me of it today. 🙂
I might have a different approach when it comes to dealing with my problems. I find there is no need to run to God or to a particular place in case of turmoil.Just being with myself, quieting the mind and remembering him for all his qualities and virtues enables me to overcome my hurdles. I strengthen my mind with his power. What I agree here is instead of turning outwards, one should turn inwards. That is from where you can connect with him.
Anamika – I understand we each have our own way of dealing with the problems we face in life. I thank God that He created us in such a way that we are unique and creative in the way we each respond to Him and what comes our way. I think God loves the times when I run to Him as equally as He loves the times I am able to stand on my own because of my trust and faith in what He has done for me in the past. I am glad you found something in Kelly’s article that you could agree with. I think it is ok to not always see eye to eye with others, that is how we all learn and grow, by learning from each other. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and insights here in the comments as well. Blessings
Anamika, when you quiet your mind and remember His qualities and virtues, you are running to Him as your support. I do that sometimes, too. Each of us might connect with God in different ways, and that’s wonderful because we are not clones. We are His creation, and He enjoys each one of our personalities. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. 🙂
It is easy to cross the line from imploring to complaining. Great post Kelly!!
Oh Sue, I agree completely.. I pray I am more imploring than complaining. and I couldn’t agree with you more – Kelly did a fabulous job!
I’m amazed at how often I forget. Thanks for reading, Sue!
Thank you for reminding me the importance of laying all my cares at His feet – let go and let God. I tend to be a fixer so my journey has included stepping back and allowing God to take control. I heard Joyce Meyer share, “Do you run to the throne or do you run to the phone?” I want to run to the throne!
Robin – I too want to run to the throne, but sometimes, I find myself picking up the phone instead. It is definitely a good phrase to remember isn’t it. And I can tend to be a fixer as well, so it takes constant reminding to let God be God and let go. I am so glad you stopped in today to share your thoughts on Kelly’s post 🙂
Robin, this year I have been learning to let God take control. It’s a journey of trust (thus my word for the year). The only way to trust is to run to the throne. Joyce shared a catchy question. Now only if I could rhyme well. 🙂 Thanks for joining us!
Kelly, I love the new look of your site and am so blessed by the words you shared here. Thank you for the reminder that God’s plan for our lives has a purpose. In spite of the burdens we may feel or put on ourselves, He will carry us through. Sorry to read about your movie theater issue, but be in good health my friend. Have wonderful weekend and may God bless you and all involved with the conference.
Horace – Thank you so much for stopping by to comment on Kelly’s post here at #TuneInThursday … It is such a great reminder isn’t it?! You have a wonderful weekend yourself, and I hope you will come back again 🙂 Blessings, Debbie
I love reading your comments, Horace, because they are always dripping with encouragement and kindness. Thank you for joining the party here. Praying you are blessed in every area, friend. 🙂
Thank you for sharing the #LMMLinkup this week. I picked your post as my favorite. 😉
Thank you so much, Mary! I’ll head over and check it out. 🙂