Monday’s Marinade is provided to you as a means of “soaking yourself” in the hope-filled Word of God at the beginning of your week. Start your week by meditating on this Word about how He has gifted you with wisdom. Repeatedly think about it and quietly say it to yourself. Marinate and season your week with hope and a confident expectation of good things happening!
Does the despair and stress of infertility make it difficult for you to maintain hope while you wait for your breakthrough to have a baby? Has it become an all-consuming thing in your life? Is infertility robbing you of your peace of mind?
If you’ve been encouraged by my book, A Seed of Hope: God’s Promises of Fertility, you know that I overcame infertility and I believe God is faithful to His promises, especially the ones related to fertility.
On Saturday, 9/13/14, I will host a teleseminar for women struggling with infertility. You can access this infertility teleseminar simply by using your phone. During the call, I’m excited to share with you a fertility game plan that will help you to effectively address the spiritual aspect of infertility. I hope you’ll join me for this time of encouragement and prayer. Your access to the call is FREE.
This call will help you learn crucial strategies to:
If you’re tired of being on the drops, curves, and loops of infertility’s emotional roller coaster, this call is for you.
If you’re feeling like God has forgotten you, this call is for you.
If you’re about to give up on God coming through for you, this call is for you.
If you’re walking strong in your faith, but need a little pep added to your step, this call is for you.
I’m looking forward to sharing with you some very simple and easy, yet crucial keys that can help you if you put them into action.
One more thing, would you please share this post with friends who are in this season of infertility? Let’s encourage as many people as we can!
Possibilities are endless with God involved!
Focus on this scripture throughout the day.
It’s about God’s strength in the midst of your circumstances.
It’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day.
Two months ago, I shared with you that there were certain F-words that I would use to help me finish strong in 2014.
In July, my F-word was Fellowship. My goal was to increase my commitment to fellowship and communicate with the Holy Spirit, allowing Him to influence my life on a daily basis. I wanted to build upon my relationship with Him and enjoy Him more.
In August, my F-word was Focus. My goal was to decrease the level of attention I gave to the distractions of life and to increase my attention to the benefits that come as a result of “looking to Jesus (Hebrews 12:2). Distractions serve one purpose — to divert your attention from what and who you really need.
Now that it’s September, my F-Word will be Follow Through. My intention is to follow through on the goals I’ve set. I’ve decided to look at my goals as promises I’ve made to myself rather than just a wish on paper. I don’t like to break a promise so this little tweak should help me get the follow through done. I also want to follow through on whatever Holy Spirit gently whispers to me to do each day, trusting that His way is the best way.
I write these F-word cards and keep the current month’s card on my desk so that I’ll remember what the target is. This also helps me to remain committed to the process!
“ Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. Think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths.”
Proverbs 3:5,6 RSV and HCSB
AND
“Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 NLT
What are some things you do that help you follow through and live with integrity? How does trusting God play a role in your follow through?
Sharing my F-word journey/experiment with you really gives me a sense of accountability, which most times, spurs me on to action. So thanks for holding me accountable to “follow through” this month!
Some of you found it helpful to join me in August and challenged yourself to FOCUS. It would be much appreciated (and motivating to me) if you’d leave a comment about how that went for you.
If you haven’t already, I’d love it if you would join me in this challenge of following through on what you’ve committed to do or on what would bring about a blessing in your life. Just make a decision to do so (which means cutting off all other options and excuses). Then, let me know you’ve joined the movement (below).
Monday’s Marinade is provided to you as a means of “soaking yourself” in the hope-filled Word of God at the beginning of your week. Start your week by meditating on this Word about having confidence in God’s faithfulness—His willingness to say, “YES” to His promises. Repeatedly think about it and quietly say it to yourself. Marinate and season your week with hope and a confident expectation of good things happening!
Focus on this scripture throughout the day. It’s about the pulverizing power of God’s Word. It’s like a hammer; so use it by speaking it! It’s what He desires us to believe. Believe it is true for you because God’s Word is Truth. Speak this Word to yourself throughout the day.
Have you prayed for a child for a LOONNGG time? Do you feel like God is ignoring your request or is somehow holding back the one thing that you desire with all of your being? Today, I want to encourage you to not give up while you wait.
Take a look at the Bible’s account about the prophet Daniel and the delay he experienced in the manifestation of his requests to God (Daniel 10:1-12). Daniel was a man of boldness; he was not afraid to pray and trust in God, even when it was illegal for him to do so. Daniel prayed earnestly—he had “set his heart,” that is, devoted himself, to this thing he was praying about.
The Scriptures give the account of how the prophet lamented for 21 days, not understanding why he had not yet heard from God. He mourned during that time, not eating, not anointing himself. Is it possible that the waiting had become a distraction to Daniel? Could it be that in the waiting his focus had changed from the faithfulness of God to the troublesome circumstances surrounding him? Not necessarily. There could be something else working behind the scenes to cause the delay in manifestation.
Do you sometimes wonder WHEN God’s promises will manifest in your life? Delays are a strategic tactic of the devil. It’s during the delays that he seeks to fill your mind with doubt. He wants you to ever so slowly lose your trust in God’s willingness to answer your prayer. He wants you to become hopeless, thinking that having a baby will never happen for you. 
The devil wants you to believe that God’s promises of fertility are not true for you. He wants you distracted, stressed out, and anxious about your future rather than resting in knowing that God’s promises are true for you.
But, when you look up and see Jesus in the midst of your situation, you see more clearly that He is right there with you. He’s loving you and wanting to give you the desires of your heart. In Daniel’s case, when he looked up and saw God’s messenger, the messenger acknowledged, “I have come in response to your words” (Daniel 10:12 NASB). He said he had been dispatched to bring the answer as soon as God heard Daniel’s request.
What had caused the delay? It wasn’t anything that Daniel had done. It wasn’t anything God had done. Evil spiritual forces had interrupted the dispatch and caused the delay. Have you considered that spiritual forces are causing the delay in the manifestation of God’s promises in your life? The delay is meant to make you give up, to become hopeless, and to no longer expect that God’s promises will come to pass in your life.
The manifestation of a promise of God may be delayed but His Word tells us it is not denied (2 Corinthians 1:20). Share on XHow can you deal with this delay?
The best way is to continue to hold on to His promises by speaking them daily. Speak them with gratitude, as if they have already been granted to you. As you speak them, you build your faith (Romans 10:17). When you speak them, your mind stays focused on Jesus and His loving power instead of the turmoil of your circumstances. As you speak them, you’ll find it easier to let go of the problem and let God solve it.
It’s important to realize that God loves you. Then it’s easier to believe He has heard your prayer. And you’ll know that He wants His promises to manifest in your life. While you wait, it’s critical to trust in God’s faithfulness and to never give up on His promises.
While you wait, here are some additional scriptures to consider, speak, and believe.
You are loved: John 17:23b ESV – that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them even as You loved Me.
God doesn’t withhold His goodness: Psalm 84:11 HNV– For the LORD God is a sun and a shield. The LORD will give grace and glory. He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.
You’ve been made blameless; infertility is not a punishment: 2 Corinthians 5:21 NIV– “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
Trust Him: Jeremiah 17:7 NLT– “But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence.” Mark 11:22-23 NIV – “Have faith in God. Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them.
God’s word is true and final: Psalm 119:89 NLT – Your eternal word, O Lord, stands firm in heaven. Matthew 24:35 NIV – Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
It’s a spiritual battle: Ephesians 6:12 NASB– “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places”.
Where’s your focus while you wait—on your problem or on Jesus?
I met Camille virtually, through my blog, in July 2012. She was disheartened about her infertility and was searching for some answers. We exchanged a couple of emails during my attempt to encourage her to keep her hope alive. I shared her email in last week’s post.
Fast forward to July 2014: As I stated last week, I “happened” to come across her email while cleaning out a file (I LOVE IT WHEN GOD SETS THINGS UP!). I decided to check in with her to see how she was doing.
Here’s a part of her email. My prayer is that is gives you hope and inspires you to trust the promises and faithfulness of God. He is not only able, He is willing!
Hi Evangeline,
It is so nice to hear from you. God is good. I am happy to report to you that my husband and I have been highly blessed and favored. I am a few days away from being 38 weeks pregnant with a little boy due July 28th. Your book, A Seed of Hope, was so encouraging and truly advanced my faith that this would happen for us one day!
I have to say that my husband and I read your book and it was so encouraging. I would re-read certain passages over and over again when doubt and fear crept in. Back in November my husband and I decided to start the process for IVF. This was after trying 3 unsuccessful IUIs before I ever read your book. So we thought we would go for it and if it was God’s will, it would happen for us.
Here’s Camille’s back story:
One day I was talking with my best friend about my struggle with infertility. I have to mention that she and her husband had just given birth to my god-daughter through IVF and while I was extremely happy for her, I felt why was God not making it happen for me.
However, on this particular day of talking with my best friend, I was so down and depressed … I felt she could no longer relate because she had her baby. That’s another story.
I remember going to Wal-Mart to get some household supplies after getting off the phone with her and when I came out it was pouring down raining. With no umbrella and getting completely soaked and wet, I looked up to the sky and said to God, “Come on… are you serious?” I was so full of anger and depression.
However, when I got home, I had an email from you! Now I had never spoken to you and am sure that I had only posted on your blog just one time. This was a sign to me that the Lord hears us and he sends people our way (sometimes even strangers) to show us that he is still with us even when we think he is not. I have used this story as a testimony.
I really wanted to let you know how much you and your book have meant to our lives. You following up with me is another reminder of the importance of telling our story of God’s greatness and continued blessings.
Thank you and I love you!
Camille
Camille was so thoughtful– she sent me a set of her baby’s pictures. He’s adorable and such a cutie pie when he yawns. 🙂
I hope her story will serve to encourage you to continue to trust God’s love for you, stand on His promises by believing and speaking God’s Word into your life, and expect that they will produce His and your desired harvest in your life.
Need more encouragement? Decide now to pull away from the stress of infertility and renew your mind to the promises of God about your fertility.
Join me at my next iHope Fertility Retreat in November 2014!
Monday’s Marinade is provided to you as a means of “soaking yourself” in the hope-filled Word of God at the beginning of your week. Start your week by meditating on this Word about the power of the words you speak. Repeatedly think about it and quietly say it to yourself. Marinate and season your week with hope and a confident expectation of good things happening!
Half of August is officially over. Time for an update on this month’s “F-word” — FOCUS.
I’ve developed the habit going to my special chair every morning soon after I awaken to sit and read a devotional and my Bible. I recently finished Encouragement for Today by Renee Swope and the Proverbs 31 Ministry Team (I highly recommend it). Some word or phrase will usually jump out at me while I’m reading and I’ll spend time finding other scripture passages that broaden my understanding. I feel my best when my day starts focused on the Word. And so I should; after all, the Word is Jesus, right?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” ~ John 1:1
During these first two weeks of August, there have been days when I’ve seen all the benefits that come from being focused. My To Do List gets whittled down quickly, I’m less stressed, and feel better about myself and what I’m accomplishing. Taking steps toward my goals is getting easier. I feel less burdened and more joyful throughout the day.
There have also been a few days when I’ve gone to bed feeling like I haven’t focused on anything at all–work–family–marriage–my health (exercise)—ANYTHING. It seems as if my To Do List has gone virtually unchecked. I’ll ask myself, “What did I do with my time today???!!!” I shouldn’t beat myself up about it. Those are the moments when I should shift my focus back to Jesus’ love for me.
I prod myself to ask Him to be my time and task manager for the next day— to guide my decision-making so I can do what HE needs me to do in my marriage, family, work, etc. Those days that I make that request are always more productive. 🙂
Here’s what I’ve learned: DISTRACTIONS are the enemy of focus.
When I purposely ignore the distractions and keep my eyes on Jesus, when I look to Him to show me the way throughout my day, I am more productive, less stressed, and live with a more hope-filled focus.
Thanks to all of you who let me know last month that you’re taking this F-Word challenge with me. Let’s see how things improve the rest of this month as we focus and allow Jesus to be at the center of what we do each day.
Here are a few affirmations crafted from passages from the Message Bible about focus that I hope will help you direct your attention to the One who is ultimately able and willing to help you in every situation you’re facing every day.
- “Give me an uncluttered and focused heart so that I can obey what you tell me and live by Your directions and counsel.” ~ 1 Chronicles 21:19
- “I shift my focus from what I do to what Jesus has already done for me.” ~ Romans 3:31
- “I quit focusing on the handicap/challenge/trouble and begin appreciating and using Your gift of grace.” ~ 2 Corinthians 12:6-8