She Aspires

Surely there is a future,
and your hope will not be cut off.
~ Proverbs 23:18 ESV

The emotions women face today are nothing new to women in the Bible.
Life wasn't perfect then. And it isn't perfect now. Though Biblical women lived in ancient times - times that we can't begin to understand - we can see ourselves in them and through them. And the emotions we face today will be nothing new to women in future generations.

Here are some Biblical women in whose life and stories we can find hope and healing. They experienced heartbreak, grief, betrayal, failure, etc. We may not know how all of their stories end, but we do know that we serve a God who redeems and restores. There is a future for us and our hope will not be cut off.

Flawed - Miriam
Overwhelmed - Martha
Violated - Dinah
Aging - Sarah
Mistreated - Hagar
Second-best - Leah
Cheated - Rachel
Tormented - Hannah
Distressed - Shunammite woman
Betrayed - Tamar (David's daughter)
Bitter - Michal
Grieving - Rizpah
Desperate - Bleeding woman
Heart-broken - Naomi

[24] So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. [25] When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
~ ‭Genesis 32:24-25 NIV‬

[14] for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.
~ ‭Psalms 103:14 NIV‬

I've been thinking about Gen 32 for a few days. I've been wrestling through some things with God lately and if I can be honest, I've been feeling frustrated with God. But when you just sit with a scripture and let the Spirit move in His time, God eventually reveals the most intriguing things.

The Hebrew word for wrestle is abaq. It means to get dusty, to bedust. The word bedust was new to me so I looked it up and it means to sprinkle, soil or cover with dust. Simply, to be dust.

Dust is common in the Bible. God formed man from dust. Dust we are and to dust we will return. Repentance and sorrow included covering one's head with dust and ashes. Dust symbolizes our weakness and frailty.

I've been doing grappling classes which is essentially wrestling. Wrestling is a tug of war with each opponent struggling for control. When wrestling your opponent, you look for their weakness to bring them to a point of submission.

When Jacob was wrestling with the angel/God, it says that the angel/God could not overpower him so He wrenched Jacob's hip.

To wrestle with God is to know that we are dust. We are human. We are frail. We are weak. Our opponent is the Almighty God, abundant in power, mighty in strength. We can't overpower Him. We can't wear Him down. We can't attack His weakness because He is perfect and complete.

As I wrestle with God, I'm reminded that I am dust and He is God. He knows best. His ways are best. His will is best. I'm not good at being dust. I'm not good at surrender. I question God. I struggle with God for control. I sometimes think I know best and I try to convince God that my ways are best.

If you're wrestling through something with God, get dusty. Get on the spiritual ground and grapple with Him. Pray, cry, scream, struggle. And when you're done, remember that you are dust and He is God.

Hey everyone. It's been a minute since I posted something. Hope everyone is doing well.

What's going on with me? I've been busy with full time work. I also drive with Uber and Lyft part-time. I serve in different capacities in my church. I joined a martial arts gym a few months ago and I've lost 17 lbs already. Doing fun things with family and friends. Trying to enjoy the summer and not melt from the heat.

I've also been doing a chronological Bible reading plan and I'm stuck in Genesis (lots to unpack). Keeping my eyes fixed on God through all of the ups and downs of life. Trying to discern God's will for me in this season.

What's going on with you? What are you reading in the Bible? How is God working in your life? What's keeping you busy? What new hobbies are you pursuing? 😊

‭[1] Some time later God tested Abraham. He said to him, “Abraham!” “Here I am,” he replied. [2] Then God said, “Take your son, your only son, whom you love—Isaac—and go to the region of Moriah. Sacrifice him there as a burnt offering on a mountain I will show you.” [3] Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey. He took with him two of his servants and his son Isaac. When he had cut enough wood for the burnt offering, he set out for the place God had told him about.
~ Genesis 22:1-3 NIV‬

A couple of days ago, I met a Christian woman on her way home from her church. She moved to Canada from Nigeria a year ago. I asked her what brought her to Canada and she said that five years ago, God told her to move to Canada. She didn't feel ready for such a faith journey until a year ago so she committed, prepared for the move and set out.

Later than evening, I was reading Genesis and came across this passage where Abraham "set out for the place God told him about." It reminded me of her story.

What is the place that God is showing you, the place you believe that God has told you about?

We all have dreams and desires that God has put on our hearts. Maybe it's a place we feel called to go to or a thing we feel called to do. Whatever it is, commit to it. Abraham got up up the next morning and was raring and ready to go. It may not be that easy for us, it may take more time for God to prepare us spiritually, mentally and/or physically. But when the time is right, trust God, take the first step and set out.

‭[12] As the sun was setting, Abram fell into a deep sleep, and a thick and dreadful darkness came over him. [13] Then the Lord said to him, “Know for certain that for four hundred years your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own and that they will be enslaved and mistreated there. [14] But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions. [15] You, however, will go to your ancestors in peace and be buried at a good old age. [16] In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”
~ Genesis 15:12-16 NIV‬

Can you imagine being enslaved and never experiencing deliverance or freedom in your lifetime? I don't know about you but I find that so heartbreaking. God told Abram that his descendants would be enslaved to Egypt and mistreated for 400 years. Generations of Abraham's descendants would never know peace.

What do you do when you're stuck in a situation that you can't change? Pray and plead with God? Think positive thoughts? Do something to try to change course? Get therapy? Seek advice from friends and family? Nothing that the Israelites could have done would have released them from their bo***ge. Because this was God's plan.

Why does God allow us to wait? It could be that He's using time to mold and shape us or to mold and shape someone else. God wanted the Israelites to be His holy and treasured possession. But, He also wanted the Amorites to repent of their sin. What we're going through, and can't get free of, isn't only about us.

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers and mother figures!

[7] No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. [8] None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
~ ‭1 Corinthians 2:7-8 NIV‬

[20] You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
~ ‭Genesis 50:20 NIV‬

Evil does not know the plans of God. Evil cannot thwart the plans of God. Evil does not understand the mysteries of God.

If the rulers in Jesus's day could comprehend the glory of God, they would not have crucified Him. If the people who commit evil acts today could see the big picture, they would know that no weapon formed will prosper.

What is meant for harm, God will use for good.

‭‭[25] Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
~ John 21:25 NIV‬

Jesus healed, drove out demons and performed miracles. He preached to crowds. He rebuked the Pharisees. He turned over tables. He mentored His disciples. He washed their feet. He met people where they were at. He prayed in solitary places. He walked on water. He commanded storms. And the Bible says He did many other things that all the books in the world could not contain. Jesus sure lived a very busy and productive life.

If Jesus lived in an age of technology and social media, everything he did would likely be written down and photographed. But I love that everything He did wasn't written down and photographed. Everything that we do for God and others, in our lifetime, does not need to be known.

Resist the devil and he will flee. The only power someone has is the power we give them.

When in the presence of Jesus, demons were terrified. They knew He was the "Holy One of God". They begged Jesus not to destroy them before their appointed time. They obeyed His commands. Philippians 2 says that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord. James 2 says that the demons shudder at the knowledge of God. The Greek word for shudder means utterly powerless.

Satan and his demons are utterly powerless. The only power they have is the power we give them. When we are in the presence of God and clothed in our spiritual armor (Ephesians 6), we can effectively resist the enemy and he will have no power over us.

‭[16] But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. [17] For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. [18] So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
~ 2 Corinthians 3:16-18 NLT‬

Satan has many tactics to keep us bound. Spiritual blindness is one of them. Sin is the veil that blinds us and separates us from God. Sin keeps us from intimacy with God. Sin keeps us from obeying God. Sin keeps us from the knowledge of God. Sin keeps us from pursuing God's will and His ways. Sin keeps us from community with God's people. Sin keeps us emotionally and spiritually immature. Sin keeps us rebellious, disobedient, arrogant and idolatrous. Sin keeps us in the devil's grasp.

But when we repent and turn back to God, we are unveiled and free to see and reflect God's glory.

‭‭[9] Then I heard the man speak, and when I heard the sound of his voice, I fainted and lay there with my face to the ground. [10] Just then a hand touched me and lifted me, still trembling, to my hands and knees. [11] And the man said to me, “Daniel, you are very precious to God, so listen carefully to what I have to say to you. Stand up, for I have been sent to you.” When he said this to me, I stood up, still trembling.
[15] While he was speaking to me, I looked down at the ground, unable to say a word. [16] Then the one who looked like a man touched my lips, and I opened my mouth and began to speak. I said to the one standing in front of me, “I am filled with anguish because of the vision I have seen, my lord, and I am very weak.
~ Daniel 10:9-11, 15-16 NLT‬

Have you ever felt an obvious physical touch, but you were alone or no one around you actually touched you?

I was asleep around 7 am this morning and felt a touch on my foot that jolted me awake. There was no one else in my room. At first I thought it was the devil messing with me and it ticked me off. So I prayed with all the authority I had in Christ and tried to go back to sleep.

But I started thinking what if it's God trying to get my attention? So I got up and read my Bible and went on with my day. And I was asking God if people can experience a physical touch from angels or demons.

See, I've been studying what the Bible says about angels and demons and the spiritual battle. And tonight I came across the above scripture and it answered my question. If Daniel could experience a physical touch by an angel, perhaps we can too. There is so much about the physical and spiritual realm that we don't know.

I didn't actually see or hear an angel, but I'm just going to believe that it was an angel that touched me!

”Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray. He was hurled to the earth, and his angels with him.“
‭‭~ Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

”Therefore rejoice, you heavens and you who dwell in them! But woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.”“
‭‭~ Revelation‬ ‭12‬:‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

He is not strong enough.

We are in a spiritual war. Our enemy is the devil and his demons. They waged war in heaven and are waging war here on earth.

But they are not strong enough. They were defeated in heaven and with the power we have in Christ, we can defeat the enemy here on earth.

Satan knows his time is short and in his fury, he will try to destroy God’s people. We don’t have to be led astray. We can stand firm and resist any spiritual attack against us.