1 00:00:05,450 --> 00:00:09,930 Speaker 1: Welcome to Christian Parent Crazy World, the podcast that tackles 2 00:00:10,010 --> 00:00:12,950 Speaker 1: tough topics to help you be a godly parent in 3 00:00:12,990 --> 00:00:16,590 Speaker 1: an ungodly world. I am your host, Katherine Segers, and 4 00:00:16,680 --> 00:00:20,680 Speaker 1: in today's episode, we will tackle this very personal but 5 00:00:20,980 --> 00:00:24,800 Speaker 1: universal question. What do you do when you're pursuing God's 6 00:00:24,980 --> 00:00:27,680 Speaker 1: promises in your life, but the path to get there 7 00:00:28,280 --> 00:00:32,040 Speaker 1: is filled with giants. Because sometimes we know God has 8 00:00:32,080 --> 00:00:34,620 Speaker 1: called us to do something. We can even see the 9 00:00:34,640 --> 00:00:38,630 Speaker 1: promised land ahead. And yet the obstacles in front of 10 00:00:38,690 --> 00:00:44,170 Speaker 1: us seem absolutely impossible to overcome. Maybe you're facing a 11 00:00:44,430 --> 00:00:48,110 Speaker 1: giant in your family, your marriage, your career, your finances, 12 00:00:48,130 --> 00:00:50,980 Speaker 1: or even your own heart. I've been in one of 13 00:00:51,040 --> 00:00:53,940 Speaker 1: these seasons for over a year now and I've learned 14 00:00:53,960 --> 00:00:57,040 Speaker 1: that there are some very practical things we need to 15 00:00:57,100 --> 00:01:01,470 Speaker 1: do when we find ourselves standing face to face with giants. 16 00:01:01,770 --> 00:01:03,830 Speaker 1: So in this episode, I'm going to share six things 17 00:01:03,910 --> 00:01:07,330 Speaker 1: we must remember to do in these seasons so we 18 00:01:07,370 --> 00:01:11,420 Speaker 1: can keep moving toward what God has promised instead of 19 00:01:11,470 --> 00:01:15,679 Speaker 1: allowing the giants to convince us to turn around. That's 20 00:01:15,720 --> 00:01:28,770 Speaker 1: the plan for this episode of Christian Parent Crazy World. Hey, everybody. 21 00:01:28,890 --> 00:01:31,290 Speaker 1: I just want to share my heart with you today. 22 00:01:31,350 --> 00:01:35,060 Speaker 1: This episode is going to be deeply personal, but it's 23 00:01:35,140 --> 00:01:38,479 Speaker 1: also going to be deeply practical. I want to talk 24 00:01:38,520 --> 00:01:40,940 Speaker 1: to you for a few minutes about the promises of 25 00:01:41,060 --> 00:01:43,580 Speaker 1: God in our lives. And if I sound a little 26 00:01:43,660 --> 00:01:46,450 Speaker 1: choked up at times, that's because this has been a 27 00:01:46,450 --> 00:01:47,550 Speaker 1: really rough season. And I want to talk to you 28 00:01:47,590 --> 00:01:48,870 Speaker 1: for a few minutes about the promises of God in 29 00:01:48,890 --> 00:01:53,570 Speaker 1: our lives. Sometimes before God takes you to a new place, 30 00:01:53,890 --> 00:01:58,250 Speaker 1: things can get really rough. Like sometimes they get rougher 31 00:01:58,290 --> 00:02:02,300 Speaker 1: than you could have imagined. Because between where you are 32 00:02:02,360 --> 00:02:05,760 Speaker 1: right now and the promised land God is leading you toward, 33 00:02:05,940 --> 00:02:10,620 Speaker 1: there can be some pretty formidable giants standing in the way. 34 00:02:11,440 --> 00:02:13,680 Speaker 1: So let me just give you a little context for 35 00:02:13,740 --> 00:02:17,579 Speaker 1: my personal journey. My regular listeners know that my husband 36 00:02:17,740 --> 00:02:22,320 Speaker 1: lost his job last summer, right before the school year started. 37 00:02:22,770 --> 00:02:25,750 Speaker 1: And the only work he could find was three and 38 00:02:25,770 --> 00:02:29,250 Speaker 1: a half hours north in Nashville, where we used to live. 39 00:02:29,950 --> 00:02:32,590 Speaker 1: And we really didn't want to move. We were very 40 00:02:32,830 --> 00:02:36,270 Speaker 1: happy where we were in our communities, in our church, 41 00:02:37,110 --> 00:02:40,890 Speaker 1: in our neighborhood. But there really wasn't another option. The 42 00:02:40,950 --> 00:02:45,300 Speaker 1: job that he was offered is amazing. It's an incredible 43 00:02:45,340 --> 00:02:49,400 Speaker 1: opportunity and we are so grateful for it. But at 44 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:52,600 Speaker 1: the time last summer, we knew what this meant. We 45 00:02:52,760 --> 00:02:57,520 Speaker 1: were preparing for a really long and difficult season because 46 00:02:57,580 --> 00:03:00,739 Speaker 1: the job involved a future promotion that had to happen 47 00:03:00,780 --> 00:03:04,430 Speaker 1: before we committed to the move. And I was contracted 48 00:03:04,470 --> 00:03:07,230 Speaker 1: to tutor an English class and we needed that income. 49 00:03:07,770 --> 00:03:09,809 Speaker 1: And my son was going to be a senior. There 50 00:03:09,830 --> 00:03:13,709 Speaker 1: were a whole host of reasons that this job change 51 00:03:13,750 --> 00:03:16,590 Speaker 1: meant a full year of my husband being in another state. 52 00:03:17,090 --> 00:03:22,240 Speaker 1: Missing major milestone events together. Missing homecoming and prom. The 53 00:03:22,280 --> 00:03:25,160 Speaker 1: first day of my son's senior year and his last. 54 00:03:25,820 --> 00:03:29,900 Speaker 1: And just missing each other like crazy. And I know 55 00:03:29,940 --> 00:03:32,940 Speaker 1: that many of you can relate to a very challenging 56 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:36,050 Speaker 1: season like that. Maybe you Maybe you're in a season 57 00:03:36,070 --> 00:03:39,950 Speaker 1: right now where you're thinking, when is this going to end? 58 00:03:40,050 --> 00:03:41,590 Speaker 1: When do I get a break? How do I ever 59 00:03:41,650 --> 00:03:46,650 Speaker 1: climb this huge mountain? And you look around and it 60 00:03:46,710 --> 00:03:49,150 Speaker 1: seems like everyone else is going to Disney World or 61 00:03:49,250 --> 00:03:52,540 Speaker 1: Europe and they're having family dinners and their husbands are 62 00:03:52,580 --> 00:03:55,760 Speaker 1: at the ball games and the practices and the recitals. 63 00:03:56,160 --> 00:03:59,550 Speaker 1: And maybe you're doing it on your own. You're handling 64 00:03:59,650 --> 00:04:05,050 Speaker 1: college preview days and scholarship applications and pets with tumors. 65 00:04:05,550 --> 00:04:09,350 Speaker 1: You're making decisions you wish you didn't have to make. 66 00:04:09,630 --> 00:04:12,780 Speaker 1: And you're carrying burdens that you wish you didn't have 67 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:17,580 Speaker 1: to carry. And maybe you're doing that largely by yourself. Now, 68 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:19,320 Speaker 1: I don't want to make myself out to be a 69 00:04:19,839 --> 00:04:23,230 Speaker 1: single parent because my husband worked in another state for 70 00:04:23,260 --> 00:04:25,830 Speaker 1: a year. To all of the single parents out there listening, 71 00:04:25,850 --> 00:04:30,210 Speaker 1: I am. tip my hat to you all the way. 72 00:04:30,310 --> 00:04:33,090 Speaker 1: And for those of you who have spouses that are 73 00:04:33,290 --> 00:04:37,250 Speaker 1: active duty or who travel for a living, you have 74 00:04:38,060 --> 00:04:42,159 Speaker 1: my undying respect now more than ever. You know, my 75 00:04:42,220 --> 00:04:46,650 Speaker 1: husband loves me and supports me tremendously, but he He 76 00:04:46,710 --> 00:04:49,250 Speaker 1: was not with our family day in and day out 77 00:04:49,310 --> 00:04:53,910 Speaker 1: for an entire year. And it was a pretty big, 78 00:04:54,070 --> 00:04:56,809 Speaker 1: important year for our family. Like I said, he missed 79 00:04:56,990 --> 00:05:01,330 Speaker 1: much of our oldest son's senior year. And then, as 80 00:05:01,370 --> 00:05:05,400 Speaker 1: so often happens, just when you think the season is 81 00:05:05,540 --> 00:05:10,730 Speaker 1: finally coming to an end, it gets worse. Worse, I've 82 00:05:10,790 --> 00:05:13,010 Speaker 1: mentioned in a couple of recent episodes that I was 83 00:05:13,150 --> 00:05:16,540 Speaker 1: on day 30 of a six-day bathroom remodel. Then it 84 00:05:16,580 --> 00:05:18,779 Speaker 1: was day 40. Then it was day 60. And it 85 00:05:18,860 --> 00:05:23,060 Speaker 1: turned into day 90 because the bottom fell out and 86 00:05:23,460 --> 00:05:26,140 Speaker 1: our contractor wouldn't fix the problems. And suddenly we were 87 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:29,849 Speaker 1: staring down liens on our house and the possibility of 88 00:05:29,910 --> 00:05:34,039 Speaker 1: a lawsuit. And it honestly looked for a time there 89 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,360 Speaker 1: that this one year stretch apart from each other just 90 00:05:37,440 --> 00:05:41,530 Speaker 1: might become two or even three. We were meeting with 91 00:05:41,630 --> 00:05:44,970 Speaker 1: lawyers trying to prevent this lawsuit when we were supposed 92 00:05:45,010 --> 00:05:49,010 Speaker 1: to be preparing to list our home. So yeah, this 93 00:05:49,070 --> 00:05:52,060 Speaker 1: was supposed to be the moment when this long season 94 00:05:52,120 --> 00:05:55,440 Speaker 1: was finally ending. And instead, it felt like everything changed. 95 00:05:56,240 --> 00:05:59,640 Speaker 1: was unraveling, and suddenly this new season God was leading 96 00:05:59,740 --> 00:06:02,040 Speaker 1: us into, the place he was calling us to, the 97 00:06:02,060 --> 00:06:03,860 Speaker 1: promised land on the other side of all of this, 98 00:06:04,400 --> 00:06:10,219 Speaker 1: seemed farther away than ever. The giant was bigger than ever. 99 00:06:10,560 --> 00:06:13,870 Speaker 1: Have you ever been there? Can I get an amen? 100 00:06:13,890 --> 00:06:18,190 Speaker 1: Maybe you are there right now. You know that God 101 00:06:18,230 --> 00:06:21,710 Speaker 1: has something ahead of you, but you cannot figure out 102 00:06:21,990 --> 00:06:24,910 Speaker 1: how in the world you're ever going to get there. 103 00:06:25,270 --> 00:06:28,890 Speaker 1: You've got fiery arrows landing all around you and you're 104 00:06:28,910 --> 00:06:33,469 Speaker 1: just thinking, can I please get off of this battlefield? 105 00:06:33,690 --> 00:06:35,190 Speaker 1: I just want to be on a beach somewhere with 106 00:06:35,230 --> 00:06:37,310 Speaker 1: a good book and a cold beverage that has a 107 00:06:37,390 --> 00:06:41,160 Speaker 1: little umbrella in it like everybody else. But you are 108 00:06:41,200 --> 00:06:45,260 Speaker 1: not there. Nope. You are on a battlefield fighting your 109 00:06:45,339 --> 00:06:49,500 Speaker 1: way toward the promise. So like I said, that's where 110 00:06:49,540 --> 00:06:51,940 Speaker 1: we've been for over a year and I suspect that 111 00:06:52,000 --> 00:06:53,930 Speaker 1: some of you are there right now and I want 112 00:06:53,970 --> 00:06:57,980 Speaker 1: to offer you some encouragement today, but more importantly, I 113 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:01,260 Speaker 1: want to give you some guidance for what to actually 114 00:07:01,480 --> 00:07:04,460 Speaker 1: do when you find yourself in that place. Because our 115 00:07:04,500 --> 00:07:08,690 Speaker 1: Holy Book has a lot to say about these seasons, 116 00:07:08,750 --> 00:07:13,570 Speaker 1: about entering into God's plans and purposes, about believing His 117 00:07:13,630 --> 00:07:18,290 Speaker 1: promises when the circumstances seem to contradict them, and about 118 00:07:18,350 --> 00:07:21,480 Speaker 1: what to do when there are giants standing between us 119 00:07:22,020 --> 00:07:25,530 Speaker 1: and where God has called us to go. But one 120 00:07:25,970 --> 00:07:29,340 Speaker 1: final thought before we jump in. I say that this 121 00:07:29,500 --> 00:07:32,300 Speaker 1: is a list of six things you need to remember 122 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,800 Speaker 1: to do when you're staring down a giant because you 123 00:07:35,820 --> 00:07:38,360 Speaker 1: already know to do this stuff. The thing is, when 124 00:07:38,380 --> 00:07:42,110 Speaker 1: you're staring at a giant, you forget to do what 125 00:07:42,140 --> 00:07:45,330 Speaker 1: you already know to do. Case in point, you're going 126 00:07:45,350 --> 00:07:49,710 Speaker 1: to hear how I failed rather spectacularly at my own 127 00:07:49,770 --> 00:07:53,200 Speaker 1: advice during the course of this episode. So the very 128 00:07:53,240 --> 00:07:55,480 Speaker 1: first thing that you need to remember to do when 129 00:07:55,520 --> 00:08:01,290 Speaker 1: you are staring at a giant is gain God's perspective. 130 00:08:01,990 --> 00:08:05,570 Speaker 1: Whenever we're facing a battle in life, there is always 131 00:08:05,650 --> 00:08:09,190 Speaker 1: the enemy's perspective about what's going on, but there is 132 00:08:09,430 --> 00:08:13,590 Speaker 1: also God's perspective. And these two different perspectives could not 133 00:08:13,630 --> 00:08:17,570 Speaker 1: be more opposite. They are diametrically opposed to one another. 134 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:23,090 Speaker 1: The enemy's perspective is rooted in in our circumstances. It's 135 00:08:23,170 --> 00:08:26,770 Speaker 1: rooted in all of the physical realities that we can see. 136 00:08:26,870 --> 00:08:32,770 Speaker 1: And sometimes what we can see is overwhelming. The diagnosis, 137 00:08:32,890 --> 00:08:37,520 Speaker 1: the bank account, the broken relationships, the lawsuit, the closed door, 138 00:08:37,580 --> 00:08:41,500 Speaker 1: the impossible deadline. The enemy wants you to look at 139 00:08:41,720 --> 00:08:45,660 Speaker 1: all of those things and say, there is no way 140 00:08:45,980 --> 00:08:51,820 Speaker 1: out of this. But we must always remember, that God 141 00:08:52,130 --> 00:08:56,420 Speaker 1: has a perspective too. And his perspective is rooted in 142 00:08:56,460 --> 00:09:00,840 Speaker 1: a spiritual reality that is even more real and far 143 00:09:00,900 --> 00:09:04,140 Speaker 1: more powerful than the physical reality we can see with 144 00:09:04,220 --> 00:09:08,360 Speaker 1: our natural eyes. I want to take you to a 145 00:09:08,380 --> 00:09:10,859 Speaker 1: portion of scripture that you may be familiar with or 146 00:09:10,900 --> 00:09:15,980 Speaker 1: maybe not. It comes from 2 Kings 6. In this 147 00:09:16,040 --> 00:09:20,540 Speaker 1: portion of scripture, the prophet Elisha and his servant... are 148 00:09:20,580 --> 00:09:23,240 Speaker 1: staying in a place that's called Dothan. And the king 149 00:09:23,380 --> 00:09:27,830 Speaker 1: of Syria has decided he has had enough of Elisha. 150 00:09:28,130 --> 00:09:32,770 Speaker 1: So he sends a large army with horses and chariots 151 00:09:33,290 --> 00:09:38,170 Speaker 1: to surround the city and capture him. So Elisha's servant 152 00:09:38,290 --> 00:09:40,750 Speaker 1: wakes up early in the morning and he looks outside 153 00:09:40,770 --> 00:09:44,319 Speaker 1: and he sees the enemy forces surrounding them. And he 154 00:09:44,429 --> 00:09:49,070 Speaker 1: does what most of us would do. He panics. Because 155 00:09:49,110 --> 00:09:53,620 Speaker 1: in the natural, they are completely surrounded. There is no 156 00:09:53,660 --> 00:09:56,260 Speaker 1: way out. From what he can see, they are dead 157 00:09:56,610 --> 00:10:00,410 Speaker 1: men walking. This is it. They are facing whatever to 158 00:10:00,470 --> 00:10:06,599 Speaker 1: be their final moments. But Elisha, he looks out there, 159 00:10:07,020 --> 00:10:10,560 Speaker 1: sees the same thing that the servant sees, but he's calm. 160 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,880 Speaker 1: He's like cool as a cucumber. And he says to 161 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 1: his servant, don't be afraid for those who are with 162 00:10:17,900 --> 00:10:24,929 Speaker 1: us outnumber us. those who are with them. Okay, can 163 00:10:25,500 --> 00:10:30,920 Speaker 1: you imagine being that servant? You're looking around like, um, Elisha, 164 00:10:31,000 --> 00:10:34,979 Speaker 1: I'm sorry, but have you looked outside lately? Because I 165 00:10:35,080 --> 00:10:38,559 Speaker 1: see a massive army. I see horses. I see chariots. 166 00:10:38,860 --> 00:10:43,110 Speaker 1: And I see us, like just us. the two of us. 167 00:10:43,470 --> 00:10:46,150 Speaker 1: You know that 80s hit song, just the two of us. Yeah. 168 00:10:46,390 --> 00:10:48,970 Speaker 1: Only the servant wasn't looking to make like big castles 169 00:10:49,010 --> 00:10:51,650 Speaker 1: in the sky as the lyrics go. So why in 170 00:10:51,690 --> 00:10:57,940 Speaker 1: the world is Elisha so calm? Because Elisha sees something 171 00:10:58,000 --> 00:11:04,160 Speaker 1: a servant cannot see. And Elisha prays, Oh Lord, please 172 00:11:04,720 --> 00:11:09,830 Speaker 1: open his eyes that he may see. And God opens 173 00:11:09,850 --> 00:11:14,090 Speaker 1: his the young man's eyes. Suddenly, he sees that the 174 00:11:14,150 --> 00:11:19,360 Speaker 1: mountain is full of horses and chariots of fire surrounding Elisha. 175 00:11:19,630 --> 00:11:25,280 Speaker 1: They aren't outnumbered. The enemy is. There is a heavenly 176 00:11:25,480 --> 00:11:30,280 Speaker 1: army surrounding them that far outnumbers the physical army surrounding 177 00:11:30,300 --> 00:11:34,179 Speaker 1: the city. And that is exactly what we need to 178 00:11:34,240 --> 00:11:38,079 Speaker 1: pray when we are staring down a giant. We need 179 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:42,310 Speaker 1: to say, Lord, Please open my eyes. Help me see 180 00:11:42,350 --> 00:11:47,000 Speaker 1: the situation from your perspective. Help me see beyond what 181 00:11:47,050 --> 00:11:48,720 Speaker 1: is right in front of me right now because it's 182 00:11:48,750 --> 00:11:52,360 Speaker 1: pretty scary. Help me to remember that what I see 183 00:11:52,520 --> 00:11:56,240 Speaker 1: is not all that is there. Help me to understand 184 00:11:56,300 --> 00:11:58,940 Speaker 1: that just because I cannot see what you are doing 185 00:11:59,679 --> 00:12:03,800 Speaker 1: does not mean that you are not doing anything. And ultimately, 186 00:12:04,640 --> 00:12:08,920 Speaker 1: our enemy is outnumbered. His days are numbered. He may 187 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:13,570 Speaker 1: be loud. He may be intimidating. He may surround you 188 00:12:13,670 --> 00:12:19,750 Speaker 1: with circumstances that look absolutely impossible. But your enemy is 189 00:12:20,080 --> 00:12:24,060 Speaker 1: not your God. There is a spiritual reality at work 190 00:12:24,100 --> 00:12:29,420 Speaker 1: that is greater than anything we can see. I am 191 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:33,420 Speaker 1: reminded of that amazing worship song by Michael W. Smith 192 00:12:33,470 --> 00:12:37,970 Speaker 1: that was inspired by this very portion of scripture. It says, 193 00:12:38,660 --> 00:12:43,450 Speaker 1: It may look like I'm surrounded, but I'm surrounded by you. 194 00:12:43,470 --> 00:12:46,910 Speaker 1: And maybe that needs to be your prayer today. God, 195 00:12:47,670 --> 00:12:50,550 Speaker 1: open my eyes. Help me to see that even when 196 00:12:50,590 --> 00:12:53,910 Speaker 1: it looks like I'm surrounded by the enemy, I am 197 00:12:54,270 --> 00:13:00,710 Speaker 1: ultimately surrounded by you. All right, let's keep moving. Number two, 198 00:13:00,750 --> 00:13:02,450 Speaker 1: the second thing you need to do when you are 199 00:13:02,550 --> 00:13:05,870 Speaker 1: facing down a giant is keep your eyes on God. 200 00:13:08,970 --> 00:13:12,790 Speaker 1: not the enemy. Now, this principle is very close to 201 00:13:12,830 --> 00:13:15,270 Speaker 1: the last one, but I think there's an important distinction here. 202 00:13:16,170 --> 00:13:21,320 Speaker 1: We do need God's perspective on our circumstances, like absolutely, 203 00:13:22,340 --> 00:13:25,959 Speaker 1: but we need more than God's perspective. We need to 204 00:13:26,020 --> 00:13:29,800 Speaker 1: keep our eyes on God himself, not just what he's 205 00:13:29,820 --> 00:13:31,440 Speaker 1: going to do for us or what we hope he 206 00:13:31,500 --> 00:13:36,480 Speaker 1: is going to do for us, but just God himself. 207 00:13:37,330 --> 00:13:38,929 Speaker 1: And I want to take you to one more portion 208 00:13:38,950 --> 00:13:40,990 Speaker 1: of scripture in the Old Testament. This one's one of 209 00:13:41,030 --> 00:13:45,910 Speaker 1: my all-time favorites. It comes from Exodus chapter 14. God 210 00:13:45,990 --> 00:13:50,510 Speaker 1: has finally delivered his people after 400 years of bondage. 211 00:13:51,190 --> 00:13:54,030 Speaker 1: Now think about what the Israelites have just witnessed. They 212 00:13:54,050 --> 00:13:59,120 Speaker 1: have watched God work miracle after miracle on their behalf. 213 00:13:59,220 --> 00:14:04,340 Speaker 1: Ten devastating plagues have come down upon Egypt, but God 214 00:14:04,380 --> 00:14:07,939 Speaker 1: has protected them. and preserved his people. We're talking about 215 00:14:07,980 --> 00:14:12,160 Speaker 1: like flies and gnats and frogs, the Nile River turning 216 00:14:12,240 --> 00:14:15,640 Speaker 1: into blood, a darkness so thick it was like anything 217 00:14:15,660 --> 00:14:20,080 Speaker 1: they had ever seen, or more accurately, not seen. And 218 00:14:20,100 --> 00:14:25,960 Speaker 1: then finally, the oldest son in every Egyptian household dies, 219 00:14:26,100 --> 00:14:32,000 Speaker 1: including Pharaoh's. And through it all, the Israelites remain safe 220 00:14:32,850 --> 00:14:36,670 Speaker 1: healthy and whole. Then they walk out of the nation 221 00:14:36,710 --> 00:14:39,330 Speaker 1: that had enslaved them for 400 years, and they aren't 222 00:14:39,390 --> 00:14:44,770 Speaker 1: leaving empty-handed. No, the Egyptians are literally giving them their 223 00:14:44,910 --> 00:14:48,590 Speaker 1: wealth as they go. So you would think, after witnessing 224 00:14:48,710 --> 00:14:51,890 Speaker 1: all of that, they would be thinking, there is nothing 225 00:14:52,200 --> 00:14:58,500 Speaker 1: our God cannot do. But then Moses leads them on 226 00:14:58,520 --> 00:15:03,250 Speaker 1: a rather unconventional route. He leads them to the Red Sea. 227 00:15:03,290 --> 00:15:06,729 Speaker 1: And of course, Pharaoh changes his mind. And coming up 228 00:15:06,770 --> 00:15:08,989 Speaker 1: behind them is the greatest army on the face of 229 00:15:09,010 --> 00:15:12,450 Speaker 1: the earth. Like chariots and horses and soldiers. And in 230 00:15:12,530 --> 00:15:16,730 Speaker 1: front of them, the Red Sea. Behind them, the enemy. 231 00:15:16,850 --> 00:15:20,690 Speaker 1: In front of them, an impenetrable object. There's nowhere to go. 232 00:15:20,710 --> 00:15:26,490 Speaker 1: And suddenly, all of those miracles they just witnessed seem 233 00:15:26,510 --> 00:15:30,290 Speaker 1: to disappear from their memory. They panic. They're terrified. And 234 00:15:30,330 --> 00:15:33,990 Speaker 1: they want to go back to Egypt. But Moses says 235 00:15:34,030 --> 00:15:37,050 Speaker 1: to them, I love this so much. He says, do 236 00:15:37,270 --> 00:15:42,650 Speaker 1: not be afraid. Stand firm and you will see the 237 00:15:42,720 --> 00:15:46,760 Speaker 1: deliverance the Lord will bring you today. The Egyptians you 238 00:15:46,840 --> 00:15:51,780 Speaker 1: see today, you will never see again. There is so 239 00:15:51,840 --> 00:15:54,920 Speaker 1: much in that. Because there will be times in your life, 240 00:15:54,980 --> 00:15:58,200 Speaker 1: probably many times, when the enemy is coming hard at 241 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,260 Speaker 1: you on one side and And you're facing what looks 242 00:16:01,340 --> 00:16:06,570 Speaker 1: like an impenetrable obstacle on the other. And you can't 243 00:16:06,610 --> 00:16:09,989 Speaker 1: see a way forward or backward. You can't see a 244 00:16:10,030 --> 00:16:13,410 Speaker 1: way out. You don't know what to do next. And 245 00:16:13,470 --> 00:16:17,320 Speaker 1: sometimes all you can do is stand still, stand firm, 246 00:16:17,980 --> 00:16:21,440 Speaker 1: and trust in your God. Now, you're going to be 247 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:25,300 Speaker 1: so tempted to keep looking at the enemy rushing towards you, 248 00:16:25,360 --> 00:16:28,840 Speaker 1: to keep checking the circumstances, to keep measuring the size 249 00:16:28,880 --> 00:16:31,900 Speaker 1: of that giant. And to keep listening to those threats. 250 00:16:32,620 --> 00:16:33,880 Speaker 1: And you're going to want to keep asking, what am 251 00:16:33,920 --> 00:16:35,180 Speaker 1: I going to do? What am I going to do? 252 00:16:35,220 --> 00:16:37,640 Speaker 1: What am I going to do? Just like the Israelites. 253 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:42,540 Speaker 1: But don't keep your eyes on the enemy. You have 254 00:16:42,760 --> 00:16:47,359 Speaker 1: got to turn your eyes on God. Not your circumstances. 255 00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:50,960 Speaker 1: Not the giant. Not the waves crashing around you. Not 256 00:16:50,980 --> 00:16:54,340 Speaker 1: what you hope he's going to do. You know, I 257 00:16:54,380 --> 00:16:57,140 Speaker 1: think about Peter. When he stepped out of the boat 258 00:16:57,230 --> 00:17:00,510 Speaker 1: and he began walking on the water toward Jesus. And 259 00:17:00,550 --> 00:17:03,590 Speaker 1: as long as his eyes were on Jesus, he walked 260 00:17:03,730 --> 00:17:06,290 Speaker 1: on top of the very thing that should have destroyed him. 261 00:17:07,410 --> 00:17:09,770 Speaker 1: But when he took his eyes off of Jesus and 262 00:17:09,810 --> 00:17:14,310 Speaker 1: looked at the wind and the waves, he began to sink. 263 00:17:15,260 --> 00:17:18,340 Speaker 1: The waves were real. The wind was real. The army 264 00:17:18,460 --> 00:17:23,780 Speaker 1: was real. And your giants are very real too. But 265 00:17:23,880 --> 00:17:29,150 Speaker 1: God is more real and he is greater. So keep 266 00:17:29,190 --> 00:17:33,600 Speaker 1: your eyes on him. Remember this, for Peter, the storm 267 00:17:33,630 --> 00:17:38,800 Speaker 1: didn't suddenly get worse. What changed was his focus. Fix 268 00:17:39,020 --> 00:17:42,960 Speaker 1: your eyes on the God who has brought you through 269 00:17:43,140 --> 00:17:47,359 Speaker 1: every battle before and who is already standing on the 270 00:17:47,420 --> 00:17:52,160 Speaker 1: other side of this one. But how do we keep 271 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:57,180 Speaker 1: our focus? This next thing we need to remember will 272 00:17:57,220 --> 00:18:13,170 Speaker 1: help us. Number three, find your fight songs. I love 273 00:18:13,210 --> 00:18:15,629 Speaker 1: this one. One of the best ways we can keep 274 00:18:15,730 --> 00:18:19,129 Speaker 1: our focus on God when we are battling against a 275 00:18:19,170 --> 00:18:24,120 Speaker 1: giant is to worship. Yeah, we need some really good 276 00:18:24,440 --> 00:18:28,439 Speaker 1: battle songs. So early on in this one-year season with 277 00:18:28,480 --> 00:18:31,220 Speaker 1: my husband in another state, when the mountain we had 278 00:18:31,260 --> 00:18:34,619 Speaker 1: this scale was so huge, we barely even begun the 279 00:18:34,740 --> 00:18:39,080 Speaker 1: long trek up this Everest. But very early on, I 280 00:18:39,240 --> 00:18:43,679 Speaker 1: felt the Lord give me one big instruction. That was 281 00:18:43,700 --> 00:18:48,710 Speaker 1: to worship. Get my focus on Him and get these 282 00:18:48,810 --> 00:18:51,410 Speaker 1: battle songs together. That was going to help me keep 283 00:18:51,470 --> 00:18:54,810 Speaker 1: my eyes where they needed to be. Because when you're 284 00:18:54,910 --> 00:18:58,850 Speaker 1: in a battle, you need something that reminds your spirit 285 00:18:59,350 --> 00:19:01,830 Speaker 1: of what is true. What is true about God and 286 00:19:01,869 --> 00:19:06,870 Speaker 1: about your spiritual reality when your circumstances are screaming something 287 00:19:06,970 --> 00:19:10,989 Speaker 1: completely different. And wouldn't you know it, right when we 288 00:19:11,010 --> 00:19:13,690 Speaker 1: should have been seeing the finish line of this season 289 00:19:14,190 --> 00:19:16,369 Speaker 1: coming into view, we were getting near the end of 290 00:19:16,410 --> 00:19:20,850 Speaker 1: the year, things got so much worse. And I had 291 00:19:20,869 --> 00:19:25,340 Speaker 1: to up my worship because... This bathroom remodel, which we 292 00:19:25,380 --> 00:19:27,580 Speaker 1: had to complete in order to sell our house, it 293 00:19:27,640 --> 00:19:31,040 Speaker 1: was supposed to take six days and it stretched out 294 00:19:31,460 --> 00:19:34,460 Speaker 1: to 90 days. And it looked like instead of selling 295 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:37,350 Speaker 1: our house, we might end up in a courtroom. The 296 00:19:37,530 --> 00:19:42,530 Speaker 1: enemy was literally like breathing down my neck, hot and heavy. 297 00:19:42,950 --> 00:19:45,230 Speaker 1: And I'll share more fully about that part of the 298 00:19:45,290 --> 00:19:48,090 Speaker 1: journey in our final point, number six. But when everything 299 00:19:48,130 --> 00:19:52,740 Speaker 1: started going south with this bathroom remodel, I was reminded 300 00:19:52,859 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: of a song that had been on my playlist for 301 00:19:55,160 --> 00:20:00,410 Speaker 1: more than 10 years. It's by a Christian artist named Blanca, 302 00:20:00,490 --> 00:20:06,129 Speaker 1: and it's called Greater Is He. And this song became 303 00:20:06,630 --> 00:20:09,700 Speaker 1: one of my fight songs. The lyrics talk about facing 304 00:20:09,760 --> 00:20:13,750 Speaker 1: a giant that is completely over your head and asking 305 00:20:13,869 --> 00:20:16,490 Speaker 1: God to help you look up to him, to focus 306 00:20:16,570 --> 00:20:20,330 Speaker 1: on him. And it talks about facing an ocean with 307 00:20:20,410 --> 00:20:24,280 Speaker 1: raging waves and remembering that God can do what you 308 00:20:24,340 --> 00:20:27,859 Speaker 1: cannot do. And then the chorus comes back to this 309 00:20:27,980 --> 00:20:32,020 Speaker 1: truth over and over. It says, greater is he living 310 00:20:32,440 --> 00:20:36,530 Speaker 1: in me than he who is in the world. than 311 00:20:36,550 --> 00:20:40,580 Speaker 1: that giant staring you down. This song took my eyes 312 00:20:40,840 --> 00:20:44,699 Speaker 1: off of my circumstances and put them exactly where they 313 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:49,719 Speaker 1: needed to be, which was on God. Let me tell you, 314 00:20:49,800 --> 00:20:53,180 Speaker 1: I would sit and listen to this song over and 315 00:20:53,660 --> 00:20:55,880 Speaker 1: over and over. I'd be in the car for half 316 00:20:55,920 --> 00:20:58,980 Speaker 1: an hour, and I would literally listen to this song 317 00:20:59,460 --> 00:21:03,030 Speaker 1: for a half an hour, and it never failed. My 318 00:21:03,130 --> 00:21:06,209 Speaker 1: spirit would be down when I started, but by the 319 00:21:06,250 --> 00:21:09,270 Speaker 1: time that song was over, or that half an hour 320 00:21:09,310 --> 00:21:14,139 Speaker 1: stretch was over, something had shifted. My spirit would rise 321 00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:16,960 Speaker 1: up inside of me. My faith would rise. My hope 322 00:21:17,020 --> 00:21:22,379 Speaker 1: would rise. Not because my circumstances had changed, because they hadn't, 323 00:21:23,200 --> 00:21:26,020 Speaker 1: but rather I had changed what I was listening to, 324 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 1: and what I was listening to helped me to change 325 00:21:28,660 --> 00:21:32,669 Speaker 1: my focus from my circumstances to to the one in 326 00:21:32,750 --> 00:21:38,170 Speaker 1: control of my circumstances, to God. And sometimes you need 327 00:21:38,210 --> 00:21:41,550 Speaker 1: to put something in your spirit that is stronger than 328 00:21:41,590 --> 00:21:46,290 Speaker 1: the voice of fear in your head. So ask God 329 00:21:46,609 --> 00:21:49,290 Speaker 1: for some battle songs and put them on a playlist. 330 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:53,480 Speaker 1: Find worship songs that remind you of who God is, 331 00:21:53,540 --> 00:21:56,580 Speaker 1: of what he has done, and what he has promised. 332 00:21:57,350 --> 00:22:01,230 Speaker 1: Because in 2 Chronicles 20, this is another great story 333 00:22:01,250 --> 00:22:04,810 Speaker 1: in the Old Testament, King Jehoshaphat and the people of 334 00:22:04,890 --> 00:22:09,310 Speaker 1: Judah were facing an overwhelming enemy. But what did they do? 335 00:22:10,070 --> 00:22:15,190 Speaker 1: They sent singers and worshipers out ahead of the army. 336 00:22:15,970 --> 00:22:19,670 Speaker 1: They worshiped before the battle was won. Actually, they worshiped 337 00:22:19,730 --> 00:22:24,020 Speaker 1: before the battle even started. So get your fight songs 338 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:29,500 Speaker 1: together and sing them in the middle of your battle, okay? 339 00:22:30,460 --> 00:22:33,600 Speaker 1: That's number three. All right, moving right along here. This 340 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,830 Speaker 1: next thing we need to remember when we are facing 341 00:22:36,869 --> 00:22:40,050 Speaker 1: a giant is so important. I've talked about it before 342 00:22:40,190 --> 00:22:43,149 Speaker 1: on the show. When you are in a battle against 343 00:22:43,230 --> 00:22:49,510 Speaker 1: a menacing, formidable enemy, you must, number four, gather your weapons. 344 00:22:50,710 --> 00:22:52,609 Speaker 1: Because when you're facing a giant, you got to have 345 00:22:52,650 --> 00:22:56,390 Speaker 1: some weapons, right? And your weapons are personal. Why did 346 00:22:56,430 --> 00:23:00,730 Speaker 1: David pick up some stones and a sling? Because that's 347 00:23:00,790 --> 00:23:03,369 Speaker 1: what he was comfortable with. That's what he knew. If 348 00:23:03,390 --> 00:23:06,690 Speaker 1: he had been comfortable with a bow and arrow, that's 349 00:23:06,830 --> 00:23:09,950 Speaker 1: probably what he would have picked. But you know what 350 00:23:10,369 --> 00:23:14,649 Speaker 1: David wasn't comfortable with? Saul's armor. It didn't fit him. 351 00:23:15,070 --> 00:23:21,480 Speaker 1: Saul's sword didn't work for David. So what are your weapons? Note, 352 00:23:21,640 --> 00:23:24,870 Speaker 1: they are not your smartphone with Google search or chat GPT. No, 353 00:23:25,630 --> 00:23:29,989 Speaker 1: your weapons are contained in the word of God. There 354 00:23:30,010 --> 00:23:33,890 Speaker 1: are those verses that he has burned into your heart, 355 00:23:34,210 --> 00:23:37,730 Speaker 1: to your soul, those portions of scripture that speak directly 356 00:23:37,869 --> 00:23:42,630 Speaker 1: to you and your situation. They tell you who God 357 00:23:43,100 --> 00:23:47,040 Speaker 1: is and what he has promised you. So gather them up, 358 00:23:47,260 --> 00:23:50,149 Speaker 1: type them up. Copy and paste them into a file. 359 00:23:50,230 --> 00:23:54,310 Speaker 1: Print them out and take them everywhere with you. Keep 360 00:23:54,369 --> 00:23:57,030 Speaker 1: them where you can easily find them. Because when you're 361 00:23:57,050 --> 00:23:58,830 Speaker 1: in the middle of a battle, you don't want to 362 00:23:58,850 --> 00:24:01,409 Speaker 1: be searching for your weapons. You need to have them 363 00:24:01,450 --> 00:24:04,650 Speaker 1: already gathered. So I've told this story before, but when 364 00:24:04,730 --> 00:24:07,760 Speaker 1: I had a miscarriage at the age of 43, and 365 00:24:07,780 --> 00:24:11,020 Speaker 1: I was still believing God for a miracle fifth child, 366 00:24:11,500 --> 00:24:14,700 Speaker 1: that's exactly what I did. I gathered a list of 367 00:24:14,780 --> 00:24:18,980 Speaker 1: scriptures together. And we prayed them over my body every 368 00:24:19,080 --> 00:24:22,859 Speaker 1: single day without fail for nearly nine months. And then 369 00:24:23,770 --> 00:24:26,470 Speaker 1: I could not have written this story any better. We 370 00:24:26,609 --> 00:24:30,310 Speaker 1: found out we were pregnant on the very day, the 371 00:24:30,410 --> 00:24:33,470 Speaker 1: very day that the child we had lost, the child 372 00:24:33,510 --> 00:24:38,179 Speaker 1: we had named Hope, was due. But we continued to 373 00:24:38,220 --> 00:24:41,340 Speaker 1: pray those verses over my body every day until our 374 00:24:41,400 --> 00:24:45,459 Speaker 1: child was born healthy and whole again. You guys, it 375 00:24:45,619 --> 00:24:51,609 Speaker 1: was a battle, like a bloody battle. Literally, I had 376 00:24:51,640 --> 00:24:55,830 Speaker 1: a partial abruption at 26 weeks. Now, an abruption is 377 00:24:55,850 --> 00:24:59,150 Speaker 1: when the placenta begins to tear away from the uterine lining. 378 00:24:59,290 --> 00:25:03,070 Speaker 1: It is very serious. It can be life-threatening for the 379 00:25:03,090 --> 00:25:07,490 Speaker 1: baby and for the mother. I had a doctor sit 380 00:25:07,510 --> 00:25:09,550 Speaker 1: down and tell me at one point that I should 381 00:25:09,609 --> 00:25:13,520 Speaker 1: not leave the hospital because my life was in jeopardy. 382 00:25:14,590 --> 00:25:16,230 Speaker 1: So I was in and out of the hospital for 383 00:25:16,250 --> 00:25:19,190 Speaker 1: the last 14 weeks and spent the entire last month 384 00:25:19,430 --> 00:25:22,510 Speaker 1: in the hospital. And the last day where we had 385 00:25:22,550 --> 00:25:26,360 Speaker 1: to have an emergency C-section, that looked like an episode 386 00:25:26,380 --> 00:25:29,220 Speaker 1: of CSI in my hospital room. It was a bloody mess. 387 00:25:29,619 --> 00:25:34,619 Speaker 1: But let me tell you, my baby, my fifth child, 388 00:25:34,660 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 1: the promised child was completely safe and healthy. And so 389 00:25:39,100 --> 00:25:43,660 Speaker 1: was I. We fought for her every single day with 390 00:25:43,840 --> 00:25:46,520 Speaker 1: our weapons, which were the verses God had given us 391 00:25:46,619 --> 00:25:50,580 Speaker 1: to pray. There's nothing, nothing more powerful than praying the 392 00:25:50,660 --> 00:25:55,520 Speaker 1: word of God. Likewise, when we found out that our 393 00:25:55,619 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 1: oldest was struggling in the faith, we gathered our weapons. 394 00:25:59,380 --> 00:26:01,980 Speaker 1: We knew what to do. We had done this before. 395 00:26:02,140 --> 00:26:05,860 Speaker 1: The Lord gave us verses to pray over her every 396 00:26:05,920 --> 00:26:08,940 Speaker 1: single day. And we've been praying those verses for her 397 00:26:08,980 --> 00:26:12,550 Speaker 1: for over four years now. every day without fail. And 398 00:26:12,609 --> 00:26:15,290 Speaker 1: now she does believe in God after spending nearly a 399 00:26:15,530 --> 00:26:20,620 Speaker 1: year identifying as agnostic. So we continue to pray those 400 00:26:20,660 --> 00:26:24,200 Speaker 1: scriptures over her, asking God to help her fully walk 401 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:26,719 Speaker 1: in the plans and purposes he has for her. We 402 00:26:26,760 --> 00:26:30,050 Speaker 1: pray scriptures over all of our kids every single day. 403 00:26:30,119 --> 00:26:34,149 Speaker 1: Your weapon is the word of God. So pray it 404 00:26:34,210 --> 00:26:38,320 Speaker 1: daily over your circumstances. By the way, both of those 405 00:26:38,359 --> 00:26:41,560 Speaker 1: sets of scriptures, the ones that we prayed as we 406 00:26:41,600 --> 00:26:43,840 Speaker 1: were believing God for our fifth child and the ones 407 00:26:43,880 --> 00:26:46,060 Speaker 1: we have prayed over our daughter when she was struggling 408 00:26:46,100 --> 00:26:48,899 Speaker 1: in her faith, they are on my website as free resources. 409 00:26:48,940 --> 00:26:51,629 Speaker 1: So just go to katherineseegers.com and you can sign up 410 00:26:51,670 --> 00:26:55,410 Speaker 1: for my free weekly newsletter and you will receive those resources. 411 00:26:55,910 --> 00:26:59,390 Speaker 1: We are moving right along here. We are over the hump. Now, 412 00:26:59,530 --> 00:27:01,810 Speaker 1: the fifth thing you need to remember to do when 413 00:27:01,850 --> 00:27:08,090 Speaker 1: you are facing a giant is number five, partner in prayer. prayer. 414 00:27:08,990 --> 00:27:11,750 Speaker 1: You need to find people who will agree with you 415 00:27:11,810 --> 00:27:15,189 Speaker 1: in prayer as you battle this giant. Now, if you 416 00:27:15,210 --> 00:27:18,000 Speaker 1: have a believing spouse who will join you on this journey, 417 00:27:18,080 --> 00:27:20,719 Speaker 1: they should be your first partner, obviously, but you may 418 00:27:20,760 --> 00:27:24,199 Speaker 1: not have that. Perhaps the situation in your marriage is 419 00:27:24,240 --> 00:27:27,740 Speaker 1: your giant, or if your spouse can't join you, or 420 00:27:27,770 --> 00:27:31,130 Speaker 1: you don't have a spouse, ask the Lord to provide 421 00:27:31,150 --> 00:27:34,050 Speaker 1: a partner for you, or better yet, ask him for 422 00:27:34,170 --> 00:27:37,780 Speaker 1: many partners. Get in a small group and pray regularly. 423 00:27:37,900 --> 00:27:41,060 Speaker 1: Find a prayer group. Find a group of women, men, 424 00:27:41,140 --> 00:27:43,780 Speaker 1: or parents who are going through what you're going through, 425 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:47,490 Speaker 1: or people who are simply invested in your life and 426 00:27:47,510 --> 00:27:50,810 Speaker 1: the life of your family. Now, I have been in 427 00:27:50,869 --> 00:27:52,850 Speaker 1: a prayer group that has met once a month for 428 00:27:52,990 --> 00:27:56,560 Speaker 1: nearly five years now. We do it online through Zoom. 429 00:27:56,690 --> 00:27:59,380 Speaker 1: It's It's just a group of moms with children who 430 00:27:59,440 --> 00:28:02,530 Speaker 1: have been on a similar journey as my daughter. So 431 00:28:02,609 --> 00:28:05,510 Speaker 1: once a month, we get together, we give each other updates, 432 00:28:06,070 --> 00:28:08,689 Speaker 1: and we pray. Simple as that. And you know, I 433 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:11,379 Speaker 1: have the names of their kids on a bookmark in 434 00:28:11,420 --> 00:28:14,500 Speaker 1: my Bible. And I pray over their kids throughout the month. 435 00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:18,960 Speaker 1: And they pray over mine as well. Our church also 436 00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:22,230 Speaker 1: has a prayer team and we can receive prayer after 437 00:28:22,250 --> 00:28:25,369 Speaker 1: the service every week. And I'll be honest, most weeks 438 00:28:26,609 --> 00:28:28,570 Speaker 1: I am up there asking for prayer for something because 439 00:28:28,830 --> 00:28:31,129 Speaker 1: I do not turn down prayer. I love prayer. I 440 00:28:31,170 --> 00:28:34,580 Speaker 1: believe so deeply in the power of prayer. And I 441 00:28:34,619 --> 00:28:38,880 Speaker 1: have received so much encouragement and so much instruction and 442 00:28:38,940 --> 00:28:43,979 Speaker 1: so many breakthroughs simply by going down And I myself 443 00:28:44,060 --> 00:28:47,020 Speaker 1: am on that prayer team because I love praying over 444 00:28:47,100 --> 00:28:49,580 Speaker 1: other people and helping them face down their giants and 445 00:28:49,700 --> 00:28:53,719 Speaker 1: pray for God to overcome them and their lives. Now 446 00:28:53,780 --> 00:28:55,880 Speaker 1: scripture tells us we know that when two or three 447 00:28:55,920 --> 00:28:59,020 Speaker 1: are gathered in his name that he is there with them. 448 00:28:59,540 --> 00:29:02,980 Speaker 1: There's something so powerful about joining our faith with the 449 00:29:03,070 --> 00:29:07,380 Speaker 1: faith of other believers. Because when we bond with others 450 00:29:07,440 --> 00:29:11,560 Speaker 1: in prayer, God becomes bigger in our hearts and And 451 00:29:11,620 --> 00:29:16,380 Speaker 1: our enemy becomes smaller. We gain his perspective. That was 452 00:29:16,420 --> 00:29:19,840 Speaker 1: step one. And we battle together for his plans and 453 00:29:19,880 --> 00:29:23,560 Speaker 1: purposes to be fulfilled in our lives. You guys, giants 454 00:29:23,740 --> 00:29:29,959 Speaker 1: don't fall on their own. They fall through persistent prayer. 455 00:29:30,730 --> 00:29:35,630 Speaker 1: So don't fight alone. And here we are. We've arrived 456 00:29:35,670 --> 00:29:39,090 Speaker 1: at the final step. This is probably the biggest one 457 00:29:39,110 --> 00:29:41,930 Speaker 1: of all. Number six. When you are in a battle 458 00:29:41,970 --> 00:29:45,210 Speaker 1: for God's promises in your life and you're staring down 459 00:29:45,250 --> 00:29:55,610 Speaker 1: a giant, you must remember to... Hey friends, it's Katherine here. 460 00:29:55,770 --> 00:29:58,210 Speaker 1: If you're trying to be a godly parent in this 461 00:29:58,490 --> 00:30:01,150 Speaker 1: wild and wacky world, you need all the help you 462 00:30:01,190 --> 00:30:04,630 Speaker 1: can get. And I've got you covered. When you subscribe 463 00:30:04,650 --> 00:30:08,030 Speaker 1: to my website, you'll get instant access to tons of 464 00:30:08,150 --> 00:30:11,709 Speaker 1: free resources made just for Christian parents. You'll get my 465 00:30:11,830 --> 00:30:15,430 Speaker 1: prodigal bundle, which is packed with every podcast, article, and 466 00:30:15,490 --> 00:30:18,970 Speaker 1: scripture list I've created for parents walking away. that tough 467 00:30:19,130 --> 00:30:23,350 Speaker 1: prodigal road. You'll also get my free e-book, Beyond the Lies, 468 00:30:23,410 --> 00:30:27,330 Speaker 1: uncovering five myths the culture spreads to mothers. Plus, powerful 469 00:30:27,390 --> 00:30:30,370 Speaker 1: scripture lists to pray over your kids and even scripture 470 00:30:30,390 --> 00:30:33,390 Speaker 1: songs to help your family hide God's word in your 471 00:30:33,430 --> 00:30:36,350 Speaker 1: hearts without even trying. And of course, I'll keep you 472 00:30:36,430 --> 00:30:40,979 Speaker 1: encouraged with my weekly newsletter full of faith-filled pep talks 473 00:30:41,100 --> 00:30:44,360 Speaker 1: and outlines of what we're tackling each week on the show. 474 00:30:44,380 --> 00:30:49,380 Speaker 1: So don't miss out. Head over to That's kathrynseegers.com and 475 00:30:49,440 --> 00:30:53,320 Speaker 1: subscribe today because Christian parenting may be crazy, but you 476 00:30:53,420 --> 00:31:00,630 Speaker 1: don't have to do it alone. Number six, speak to 477 00:31:00,690 --> 00:31:05,930 Speaker 1: your giant and prophesy its future. Now this one is 478 00:31:05,950 --> 00:31:08,350 Speaker 1: going to take a little while to unpack and apply. 479 00:31:08,770 --> 00:31:11,130 Speaker 1: So I mentioned earlier that right when we should have 480 00:31:11,150 --> 00:31:14,560 Speaker 1: been seeing the finish line of this very long season 481 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:18,190 Speaker 1: in our lives, The battle intensified in a way that 482 00:31:18,430 --> 00:31:21,870 Speaker 1: I honestly, I never saw it coming. On top of 483 00:31:21,950 --> 00:31:25,450 Speaker 1: solo parenting and homeschooling for a year while working two 484 00:31:25,510 --> 00:31:29,520 Speaker 1: part-time jobs, I now had to get our house ready 485 00:31:29,740 --> 00:31:33,780 Speaker 1: to sell. And can I just say, organization and packing 486 00:31:33,840 --> 00:31:38,100 Speaker 1: are not exactly my strong suit there. Not in my wheelhouse. 487 00:31:38,140 --> 00:31:41,370 Speaker 1: They just aren't. Mixing metaphors, however, is. I just did 488 00:31:41,380 --> 00:31:45,220 Speaker 1: it again. Okay, so on top of everything else, Selling 489 00:31:45,260 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 1: our house required a major bathroom renovation. And you guys, 490 00:31:50,400 --> 00:31:54,950 Speaker 1: I never imagined that bathroom renovation would become one of 491 00:31:54,990 --> 00:31:58,650 Speaker 1: the biggest giants we would have to face all year. 492 00:31:59,350 --> 00:32:01,969 Speaker 1: But it went south very quickly. We found ourselves in 493 00:32:02,010 --> 00:32:06,590 Speaker 1: this six-day bathroom remodel that stretched out to nearly 90 days. 494 00:32:06,990 --> 00:32:09,730 Speaker 1: And eventually the whole thing looked complete on the surface, 495 00:32:09,790 --> 00:32:12,570 Speaker 1: but it had to be gutted because it had all 496 00:32:12,810 --> 00:32:18,440 Speaker 1: been done. incorrectly. And the original contractor, he was not cooperating. 497 00:32:18,620 --> 00:32:20,820 Speaker 1: They weren't agreeing to get to the root of the 498 00:32:20,840 --> 00:32:23,320 Speaker 1: problems and fix it. The owner wouldn't even come out 499 00:32:23,360 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 1: to see the problems. And then things got legal. We 500 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:30,220 Speaker 1: had to consult a lawyer. We were looking at the 501 00:32:30,310 --> 00:32:33,590 Speaker 1: possibility of a lien on our property. And it appeared 502 00:32:34,010 --> 00:32:38,390 Speaker 1: that this renovation could literally double in cost and potentially 503 00:32:38,470 --> 00:32:42,350 Speaker 1: tie us up for many, many months or even years. 504 00:32:43,150 --> 00:32:47,870 Speaker 1: And you guys, I was terrified. Seriously, I was so scared. 505 00:32:47,890 --> 00:32:51,150 Speaker 1: I would lie awake at night with these thoughts running 506 00:32:51,230 --> 00:32:53,930 Speaker 1: through my head. And of course, now I recognize that 507 00:32:53,950 --> 00:32:55,630 Speaker 1: it was the voice of the enemy. But at the time, 508 00:32:55,670 --> 00:32:58,500 Speaker 1: it just looked like reality. And these voices were saying, 509 00:32:58,820 --> 00:33:00,480 Speaker 1: you're not going to be able to sell your house. 510 00:33:00,500 --> 00:33:02,520 Speaker 1: You're going to get sued. This bathroom is going to 511 00:33:02,540 --> 00:33:04,640 Speaker 1: eat up all of your equity. And you're going to 512 00:33:04,660 --> 00:33:08,630 Speaker 1: be stuck in Alabama for years. It was the voice 513 00:33:08,670 --> 00:33:11,350 Speaker 1: of the enemy going through my head. But here's the thing, 514 00:33:11,490 --> 00:33:14,990 Speaker 1: like I said about the enemy's voice, it sounds like 515 00:33:15,550 --> 00:33:19,890 Speaker 1: reality because it's based on something that is actually happening 516 00:33:20,010 --> 00:33:23,540 Speaker 1: or could happen. That's what we talked about with Elisha 517 00:33:23,560 --> 00:33:28,200 Speaker 1: and his servants, right? The Syrian army really was surrounding him. 518 00:33:28,660 --> 00:33:33,020 Speaker 1: The threat was real. The circumstances were real. But the 519 00:33:33,160 --> 00:33:37,970 Speaker 1: servant was only seeing part of the reality. And I 520 00:33:38,010 --> 00:33:40,380 Speaker 1: was doing the same thing. We have got to go 521 00:33:40,460 --> 00:33:44,140 Speaker 1: back to step one throughout this process and continually make 522 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:48,340 Speaker 1: sure we're renewing our mind so we have God's perspective, 523 00:33:48,660 --> 00:33:52,110 Speaker 1: not ours. Got to repeat the steps because our human 524 00:33:52,190 --> 00:33:55,290 Speaker 1: nature and fear will get us off track. So there 525 00:33:55,350 --> 00:33:57,630 Speaker 1: I was this one night. I'll never forget. I was 526 00:33:57,650 --> 00:34:00,820 Speaker 1: in a hotel room at my son's orientation at Mississippi 527 00:34:00,910 --> 00:34:07,740 Speaker 1: Christian University. And get this. That school had a $ 38, 000 528 00:34:06,980 --> 00:34:10,739 Speaker 1: a year cost of attendance. And that was actually one 529 00:34:10,780 --> 00:34:13,150 Speaker 1: of the more reasonable schools that we had visited. But 530 00:34:13,190 --> 00:34:15,509 Speaker 1: we didn't happen to have $ 38, 000 a year to send 531 00:34:15,530 --> 00:34:20,630 Speaker 1: my son to school. And yet, my son's tuition was 532 00:34:20,690 --> 00:34:26,009 Speaker 1: completely covered. Miraculously, God had already slayed that $ 38, 000 giant. 533 00:34:26,030 --> 00:34:31,310 Speaker 1: That's why we were there. God had already provided in 534 00:34:31,370 --> 00:34:34,410 Speaker 1: a way where there was no way. And it reminds 535 00:34:34,469 --> 00:34:37,670 Speaker 1: me of the Israelites coming out of Egypt. God had 536 00:34:37,710 --> 00:34:41,450 Speaker 1: already performed miracle after miracle to get them out of Egypt. 537 00:34:42,110 --> 00:34:43,910 Speaker 1: But there they stood at the Red Sea and they 538 00:34:43,950 --> 00:34:47,319 Speaker 1: forgot the giant that God had already slayed. And they 539 00:34:47,380 --> 00:34:49,100 Speaker 1: only saw the one that was right in front of them. 540 00:34:49,960 --> 00:34:53,709 Speaker 1: And there I was. God had already provided for my son. 541 00:34:54,050 --> 00:34:56,990 Speaker 1: God had already opened doors for us. God had already 542 00:34:57,070 --> 00:35:01,940 Speaker 1: shown his faithfulness this entire year. But I was standing 543 00:35:02,000 --> 00:35:04,739 Speaker 1: in front of my own Red Sea, listening to the 544 00:35:04,800 --> 00:35:07,900 Speaker 1: enemy tell me about what could be a $ 50, 000 bathroom 545 00:35:07,940 --> 00:35:14,370 Speaker 1: disaster that might prevent us from moving. And I was cowering, 546 00:35:14,770 --> 00:35:17,730 Speaker 1: just like the Israelites cowered. You know, you read that 547 00:35:17,790 --> 00:35:21,149 Speaker 1: story about the Israelites cowering at the Red Sea and think, 548 00:35:21,390 --> 00:35:23,800 Speaker 1: how could they do that after everything God had done? 549 00:35:23,820 --> 00:35:27,500 Speaker 1: And then you find yourself standing at your own Red 550 00:35:27,580 --> 00:35:32,260 Speaker 1: Sea and you realize, I am doing the same exact thing, right? 551 00:35:32,860 --> 00:35:35,320 Speaker 1: So there I was in a hotel room at 2 a.m. 552 00:35:35,560 --> 00:35:38,920 Speaker 1: outside of Jackson, Mississippi. And I don't know why, by 553 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:41,439 Speaker 1: the way, the enemy's voice is always loudest at 2 a.m., 554 00:35:41,460 --> 00:35:44,359 Speaker 1: but it is. The enemy was telling me, you know, maybe... 555 00:35:44,770 --> 00:35:47,660 Speaker 1: you just need to stay in Alabama another semester or 556 00:35:47,700 --> 00:35:50,899 Speaker 1: maybe another school year, maybe even two. Maybe you need 557 00:35:50,920 --> 00:35:54,180 Speaker 1: to cancel your spots at that new homeschool co-op near 558 00:35:54,200 --> 00:35:56,640 Speaker 1: Nashville and reserve your spots where you are. Maybe you 559 00:35:56,680 --> 00:36:00,620 Speaker 1: need to settle in for another long, hard year while 560 00:36:00,680 --> 00:36:04,380 Speaker 1: you try to clear up this legal mess. And at 561 00:36:04,400 --> 00:36:07,490 Speaker 1: the time, in the middle of the night, many miles 562 00:36:07,590 --> 00:36:12,830 Speaker 1: away from my husband, that sounded like reality. And even 563 00:36:12,950 --> 00:36:19,560 Speaker 1: more Reason. But it wasn't reality or reason. That was 564 00:36:19,600 --> 00:36:21,950 Speaker 1: the enemy trying to get me to agree with his 565 00:36:22,050 --> 00:36:26,009 Speaker 1: plan for my future. So you know what I did? 566 00:36:26,030 --> 00:36:29,589 Speaker 1: It was a pretty long, nasty night there. But my 567 00:36:29,730 --> 00:36:32,470 Speaker 1: husband and I went down for prayer the following Sunday. 568 00:36:32,530 --> 00:36:34,370 Speaker 1: He had come home for the weekend and I was 569 00:36:34,430 --> 00:36:37,170 Speaker 1: back in Alabama. We went down for prayer and my 570 00:36:37,210 --> 00:36:40,340 Speaker 1: good friend Cliff, Clifton Payne Jr., who has been on 571 00:36:40,360 --> 00:36:42,899 Speaker 1: the show numerous times, He was on the prayer line 572 00:36:43,060 --> 00:36:46,900 Speaker 1: with his beautiful wife, Melanie, and we asked for them 573 00:36:46,940 --> 00:36:49,500 Speaker 1: to partner with us in prayer over this situation with 574 00:36:49,520 --> 00:36:53,040 Speaker 1: the contractor in the bathroom. The contractor had finally actually 575 00:36:53,100 --> 00:36:54,779 Speaker 1: agreed to meet with us the next day, and we 576 00:36:54,820 --> 00:36:57,180 Speaker 1: wanted some fellow believers to partner with us in prayer. 577 00:36:57,200 --> 00:37:02,540 Speaker 1: And you guys, something welled up inside of me, and 578 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:06,830 Speaker 1: I know it was not me. I believe it was 579 00:37:06,850 --> 00:37:10,310 Speaker 1: the Holy Spirit stirring something inside of me, not just 580 00:37:10,350 --> 00:37:16,250 Speaker 1: to pray about the situation, but to speak specifically against 581 00:37:16,489 --> 00:37:21,710 Speaker 1: the enemy's narrative and to agree out loud with God's plan. 582 00:37:23,110 --> 00:37:25,970 Speaker 1: And suddenly I said these words. I did not conceive them. 583 00:37:26,180 --> 00:37:28,920 Speaker 1: They just came out of my mouth. I said, in 584 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:32,120 Speaker 1: the name of Jesus, we will not end up in 585 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:34,469 Speaker 1: a courtroom without We will not have a lien on 586 00:37:34,510 --> 00:37:37,690 Speaker 1: our house. This will not prevent us from selling our house. 587 00:37:37,910 --> 00:37:39,790 Speaker 1: And in the name of Jesus, we will not pay 588 00:37:39,790 --> 00:37:43,910 Speaker 1: $ 50, 000 for this bathroom remodel or $ 40, 000 or $ 30, 000. And 589 00:37:44,370 --> 00:37:48,469 Speaker 1: you guys, at that point, the best case scenario, considering 590 00:37:48,510 --> 00:37:51,200 Speaker 1: what we had already paid, was a $ 30, 000 bathroom. I 591 00:37:51,239 --> 00:37:54,120 Speaker 1: didn't even mean to say that, but those words came 592 00:37:54,360 --> 00:37:57,680 Speaker 1: out of my mouth. I spoke those words to the 593 00:37:57,719 --> 00:37:59,420 Speaker 1: giant and I couldn't take them back, nor did I 594 00:37:59,460 --> 00:38:02,330 Speaker 1: want to, because... I didn't even believe these words when 595 00:38:02,370 --> 00:38:03,890 Speaker 1: I said them in my mind. This was going to 596 00:38:03,910 --> 00:38:06,739 Speaker 1: be a 30 grand situation, but I said it and 597 00:38:06,760 --> 00:38:10,740 Speaker 1: I wasn't taking it back. I was rejecting the future 598 00:38:10,940 --> 00:38:15,299 Speaker 1: the enemy was trying to convince me to accept. I 599 00:38:15,340 --> 00:38:17,730 Speaker 1: also prayed that our house would sell quickly and that 600 00:38:17,750 --> 00:38:20,250 Speaker 1: we would purchase our new house exactly where God wanted 601 00:38:20,310 --> 00:38:23,230 Speaker 1: us to be very quickly. Not where the enemy wanted 602 00:38:23,290 --> 00:38:25,370 Speaker 1: us to be, not where fear wanted us to be, 603 00:38:25,590 --> 00:38:28,670 Speaker 1: but where God wanted us to be. And I personally 604 00:38:28,710 --> 00:38:30,610 Speaker 1: prayed that it would happen this summer. Oh, and one 605 00:38:30,630 --> 00:38:32,770 Speaker 1: more thing, a bonus thing. I asked for a house 606 00:38:32,790 --> 00:38:34,990 Speaker 1: with a lot of trees because that was like personally 607 00:38:35,030 --> 00:38:37,590 Speaker 1: what I was really hoping for. And you guys, I 608 00:38:37,650 --> 00:38:43,000 Speaker 1: felt such relief. It was such a peace washing over 609 00:38:43,040 --> 00:38:45,680 Speaker 1: me as I rejected all of the plans of the 610 00:38:45,880 --> 00:38:49,259 Speaker 1: enemy over our lives that had been eating away at 611 00:38:49,300 --> 00:38:52,839 Speaker 1: me late at night. And I chose to agree with 612 00:38:52,940 --> 00:38:58,580 Speaker 1: God's plan instead. And then the very next day, we 613 00:38:58,640 --> 00:39:00,580 Speaker 1: met with the owner of the company for the first 614 00:39:00,620 --> 00:39:04,750 Speaker 1: time in more than two months. And I never imagined 615 00:39:05,150 --> 00:39:08,950 Speaker 1: the favor we were about to receive. We simply asked 616 00:39:08,969 --> 00:39:11,350 Speaker 1: to part ways with the guy with no money owed 617 00:39:11,430 --> 00:39:14,680 Speaker 1: on either side, no lien, no legal action, which had 618 00:39:14,719 --> 00:39:17,620 Speaker 1: been threatened. And now this was a scenario that would 619 00:39:17,660 --> 00:39:20,970 Speaker 1: have left us with a $ 30, 000 bathroom. And the owner 620 00:39:20,989 --> 00:39:24,150 Speaker 1: of the company agreed to that. Then he went out 621 00:39:24,210 --> 00:39:27,430 Speaker 1: to his truck and he came back with a check 622 00:39:28,350 --> 00:39:36,110 Speaker 1: and he fully reimbursed us for our deposit. This bathroom 623 00:39:36,150 --> 00:39:40,760 Speaker 1: was not going to cost us $ 30, 000. It was just 624 00:39:41,280 --> 00:39:44,540 Speaker 1: as I had prayed. We were stunned. But honestly, we 625 00:39:44,560 --> 00:39:47,400 Speaker 1: should not have been stunned. But I was. And so 626 00:39:47,420 --> 00:39:50,200 Speaker 1: was my husband. But we got the bathroom fixed by 627 00:39:50,239 --> 00:39:53,029 Speaker 1: another contractor in three weeks. We put our house on 628 00:39:53,050 --> 00:39:56,590 Speaker 1: the market on July 9th. We had three showings scheduled 629 00:39:56,650 --> 00:40:01,509 Speaker 1: for that day. Two of them canceled. My husband said, 630 00:40:01,550 --> 00:40:04,480 Speaker 1: no worries. It only takes one. And you guys, as 631 00:40:04,719 --> 00:40:08,240 Speaker 1: God is my witness, after one day on the market 632 00:40:08,420 --> 00:40:14,990 Speaker 1: and only one showing, we got a full price offer. 633 00:40:16,750 --> 00:40:19,290 Speaker 1: You guys, the house right next door to us that's 634 00:40:19,450 --> 00:40:23,009 Speaker 1: very similar to ours had been on the market for 635 00:40:23,150 --> 00:40:26,700 Speaker 1: nearly a month. And to this day, it still has 636 00:40:26,760 --> 00:40:29,580 Speaker 1: not sold, but ours sold in one day, in 24 hours. 637 00:40:31,110 --> 00:40:33,290 Speaker 1: Then I immediately found a home that seemed too good 638 00:40:33,310 --> 00:40:36,210 Speaker 1: to be true, exactly where we wanted to live. We 639 00:40:36,250 --> 00:40:38,030 Speaker 1: ended up in a bidding war with three other buyers. 640 00:40:38,070 --> 00:40:40,780 Speaker 1: We offered less than this house was worth, the house 641 00:40:40,860 --> 00:40:44,520 Speaker 1: I am currently podcasting to you from. But by the 642 00:40:44,560 --> 00:40:47,560 Speaker 1: grace of God, we got it. And I asked our 643 00:40:47,600 --> 00:40:49,819 Speaker 1: realtor if she thought there was a snowball's chance of 644 00:40:49,920 --> 00:40:51,820 Speaker 1: us getting this house without an act of God. And 645 00:40:51,840 --> 00:40:55,279 Speaker 1: she said, not a chance. This house has it all. 646 00:40:55,340 --> 00:40:57,560 Speaker 1: It's got a place for a studio. It's got character 647 00:40:57,580 --> 00:41:01,200 Speaker 1: for days and literally acres and acres of trees. You 648 00:41:01,219 --> 00:41:04,230 Speaker 1: can see a tree from every single window. Everything I 649 00:41:04,550 --> 00:41:10,149 Speaker 1: had spoken over this situation came to pass. But here's 650 00:41:10,170 --> 00:41:12,890 Speaker 1: the one thing I want to make very clear. This 651 00:41:12,950 --> 00:41:16,390 Speaker 1: is not name it, claim it theology. I do not 652 00:41:16,450 --> 00:41:18,689 Speaker 1: believe we have the power to speak whatever we want 653 00:41:18,790 --> 00:41:22,210 Speaker 1: into existence and somehow God is obligated to give it 654 00:41:22,250 --> 00:41:25,120 Speaker 1: to us. If what I had prayed was not God's plan, 655 00:41:25,200 --> 00:41:27,500 Speaker 1: it would not have happened. And I would not have 656 00:41:27,540 --> 00:41:30,700 Speaker 1: wanted it to happen. This isn't about me getting God 657 00:41:30,719 --> 00:41:32,819 Speaker 1: to do what I wanted him to do. It's about 658 00:41:32,880 --> 00:41:36,000 Speaker 1: me refusing to agree with what the enemy was telling 659 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:39,040 Speaker 1: me was going to happen. And me choosing to agree 660 00:41:39,100 --> 00:41:43,180 Speaker 1: with God. And that's an important distinction. Because the enemy 661 00:41:43,219 --> 00:41:46,120 Speaker 1: has a plan for your future. And he wants you 662 00:41:46,160 --> 00:41:49,819 Speaker 1: to agree with that plan. With the fear that he's 663 00:41:50,380 --> 00:41:53,460 Speaker 1: coming against you with. the dead of night. He wants 664 00:41:53,480 --> 00:41:56,400 Speaker 1: you to agree with defeat. He wants you to agree 665 00:41:56,440 --> 00:41:58,840 Speaker 1: that the giant is too big, the Red Sea is 666 00:41:58,900 --> 00:42:03,160 Speaker 1: too wide, and the promise is too far away. And 667 00:42:03,180 --> 00:42:07,500 Speaker 1: you know what? You can accept that plan. The Israelites did. 668 00:42:08,200 --> 00:42:11,060 Speaker 1: Think about it. They had already seen God deliver them 669 00:42:11,100 --> 00:42:14,200 Speaker 1: from Egypt. They had already seen his power. They had 670 00:42:14,300 --> 00:42:17,930 Speaker 1: already watched him perform miracles. But when they heard the 671 00:42:17,969 --> 00:42:22,190 Speaker 1: report of the ten spies, they agreed with fear. Instead 672 00:42:22,230 --> 00:42:25,410 Speaker 1: of faith. And you know what they got? They got 673 00:42:25,450 --> 00:42:27,930 Speaker 1: the enemy's plan for their life. They got another 40 674 00:42:27,930 --> 00:42:32,380 Speaker 1: years in the desert. They didn't have to accept that report. 675 00:42:33,219 --> 00:42:36,400 Speaker 1: And neither do you. Now I'm not saying that we 676 00:42:36,420 --> 00:42:41,100 Speaker 1: can control God's timeline or dictate his will. We cannot. 677 00:42:41,840 --> 00:42:44,400 Speaker 1: But we do have a choice about whose voice we 678 00:42:44,440 --> 00:42:49,500 Speaker 1: will believe. And whose plan we will agree with. God's 679 00:42:49,560 --> 00:42:53,520 Speaker 1: plan will require faith. It will require you to gain 680 00:42:53,580 --> 00:42:57,069 Speaker 1: his perspective. It will require you to keep your eyes 681 00:42:57,210 --> 00:43:00,350 Speaker 1: on him. It will require you to find some battle 682 00:43:00,410 --> 00:43:03,489 Speaker 1: songs and to gather your weapons and to partner with 683 00:43:03,530 --> 00:43:06,549 Speaker 1: people in prayer. And finally, it's going to require you 684 00:43:06,610 --> 00:43:10,750 Speaker 1: to stand up and speak to your giant. Not because 685 00:43:10,770 --> 00:43:16,140 Speaker 1: your words have magical power. No, but your agreement with 686 00:43:16,360 --> 00:43:20,620 Speaker 1: God matters. So let's go through that to-do list one 687 00:43:20,660 --> 00:43:25,190 Speaker 1: more time. Number one. gain God's perspective. Ask him to 688 00:43:25,330 --> 00:43:27,790 Speaker 1: open your eyes so you can see what you cannot see. 689 00:43:28,270 --> 00:43:32,020 Speaker 1: Number two, keep your eyes on God. Don't let the 690 00:43:32,080 --> 00:43:35,140 Speaker 1: size of the giant become bigger in your heart than 691 00:43:35,180 --> 00:43:39,180 Speaker 1: the size of your God. Number three, find your fight songs. 692 00:43:39,239 --> 00:43:41,980 Speaker 1: Put worship in your mouth when fear wants to take 693 00:43:42,219 --> 00:43:46,569 Speaker 1: over your mind. Number four, gather your weapons. Don't walk 694 00:43:46,610 --> 00:43:51,689 Speaker 1: into a spiritual battle empty-handed. Get your scriptures together. Number five, 695 00:43:52,110 --> 00:43:55,209 Speaker 1: Partner in prayer. Find people who will stand with you 696 00:43:55,510 --> 00:43:58,860 Speaker 1: when your own faith is weak. And number six, speak 697 00:43:59,239 --> 00:44:03,860 Speaker 1: to your giant. Reject the enemy's narrative. Agree with God. 698 00:44:04,260 --> 00:44:09,460 Speaker 1: And when God has revealed his plan, speak that truth boldly. 699 00:44:09,900 --> 00:44:12,680 Speaker 1: Because the giant may be big. The Red Sea may 700 00:44:12,739 --> 00:44:18,560 Speaker 1: be wide. The circumstances may look completely impossible. But none 701 00:44:18,600 --> 00:44:22,089 Speaker 1: of that changes anything. who your God is. So don't 702 00:44:22,170 --> 00:44:26,150 Speaker 1: surrender the promise because the giant is standing between you 703 00:44:26,270 --> 00:44:29,870 Speaker 1: and it. The giant may be standing there for a reason. 704 00:44:30,810 --> 00:44:33,450 Speaker 1: Maybe this is the season when God is teaching you 705 00:44:33,489 --> 00:44:36,520 Speaker 1: to trust him in a way you've never trusted him before. 706 00:44:37,380 --> 00:44:43,000 Speaker 1: And maybe that battle is preparing you for the promise. Remember, 707 00:44:43,040 --> 00:44:46,000 Speaker 1: the Red Sea isn't the end of your story. Maybe 708 00:44:46,020 --> 00:44:49,110 Speaker 1: it's the place where you're about to watch God make 709 00:44:49,120 --> 00:44:55,480 Speaker 1: a way where there is no way. Now, before we 710 00:44:55,540 --> 00:44:57,739 Speaker 1: wrap up, I want to tell you a little about 711 00:44:57,780 --> 00:45:01,259 Speaker 1: where we're going very soon, maybe in the next episode. 712 00:45:01,280 --> 00:45:05,739 Speaker 1: I usually map out the schedule months in advance. I 713 00:45:05,820 --> 00:45:09,390 Speaker 1: squirrel away many nuts, aka recorded episodes, so I can 714 00:45:09,430 --> 00:45:12,489 Speaker 1: stay on top of things. But this season has been 715 00:45:12,730 --> 00:45:16,100 Speaker 1: so crazy and all my nuts are spent I need 716 00:45:16,140 --> 00:45:19,660 Speaker 1: to build up my war chest again. There's another mixed 717 00:45:19,719 --> 00:45:22,420 Speaker 1: metaphor for those of you who are counting. But as 718 00:45:22,600 --> 00:45:25,879 Speaker 1: I've been walking through this season, I've realized something else. 719 00:45:26,719 --> 00:45:30,640 Speaker 1: Sometimes we hold very different experiences in our hands at 720 00:45:30,680 --> 00:45:34,010 Speaker 1: the exact same moment. So while I was watching God 721 00:45:34,070 --> 00:45:36,790 Speaker 1: thread these needles in my life that were so small 722 00:45:36,830 --> 00:45:40,810 Speaker 1: that you couldn't even see the opening... I was also 723 00:45:40,910 --> 00:45:47,109 Speaker 1: walking through tremendous disappointment and loss with friends around me. 724 00:45:47,170 --> 00:45:51,799 Speaker 1: There were times when prayers seemed to go unanswered. There 725 00:45:51,820 --> 00:45:54,580 Speaker 1: were times when I felt like I was begging, like 726 00:45:54,900 --> 00:45:59,760 Speaker 1: literally begging God to show up. And there were moments 727 00:45:59,820 --> 00:46:03,710 Speaker 1: when the story being written was so sad, like so tragic. 728 00:46:04,310 --> 00:46:08,230 Speaker 1: that it seemed impossible to understand how God could allow 729 00:46:08,310 --> 00:46:13,810 Speaker 1: it to end that way at a grave. And I 730 00:46:13,830 --> 00:46:15,890 Speaker 1: think many of us know what it's like to hold 731 00:46:15,950 --> 00:46:20,630 Speaker 1: these two realities in tandem. We see God moving unmistakably 732 00:46:20,650 --> 00:46:23,930 Speaker 1: in one area of our lives. Then in another, He 733 00:46:24,719 --> 00:46:32,060 Speaker 1: seems absent, silent, almost MIA. And we're disappointed and confused 734 00:46:32,120 --> 00:46:36,320 Speaker 1: and hurt. Scripture tells us to rejoice with those who rejoice. 735 00:46:37,040 --> 00:46:38,799 Speaker 1: There's been a lot of horror, but I've had so 736 00:46:38,860 --> 00:46:42,200 Speaker 1: much to rejoice about. But Scripture also tells us to 737 00:46:42,260 --> 00:46:45,500 Speaker 1: grieve with those who grieve, and I've been there, too. 738 00:46:46,239 --> 00:46:49,279 Speaker 1: So coming up soon, I'm not exactly sure when, I 739 00:46:49,670 --> 00:46:51,790 Speaker 1: want to take you into that other side of the 740 00:46:51,850 --> 00:46:54,930 Speaker 1: season in a conversation with a couple of my closest friends. 741 00:46:54,989 --> 00:46:57,430 Speaker 1: Because in the middle of all this tension while I 742 00:46:57,469 --> 00:47:00,110 Speaker 1: was crying out to God for answers, He took me 743 00:47:00,170 --> 00:47:04,010 Speaker 1: to a portion of Scripture that Honestly, it just shocked 744 00:47:04,070 --> 00:47:07,390 Speaker 1: me with how perfectly it spoke to what I was 745 00:47:07,430 --> 00:47:10,220 Speaker 1: walking through. And here's what's crazy. I've read the Bible 746 00:47:10,260 --> 00:47:13,160 Speaker 1: cover to cover many times, and I had never noticed 747 00:47:13,180 --> 00:47:16,630 Speaker 1: this particular portion of Scripture before. I just love it. 748 00:47:16,840 --> 00:47:19,160 Speaker 1: I love it when God does that. Our Holy Book 749 00:47:19,200 --> 00:47:22,990 Speaker 1: has a lot to say about suffering and even seasons 750 00:47:23,030 --> 00:47:25,390 Speaker 1: where God seems to be absent. So we're going to 751 00:47:25,430 --> 00:47:27,870 Speaker 1: talk about that. We're going to talk about unanswered prayer, 752 00:47:27,950 --> 00:47:32,460 Speaker 1: disappointment loss, what happens when God seems silent. And how 753 00:47:32,500 --> 00:47:35,100 Speaker 1: we hold on to our faith when the story doesn't 754 00:47:35,140 --> 00:47:39,040 Speaker 1: look like what we thought God was writing. Because faith 755 00:47:39,120 --> 00:47:41,920 Speaker 1: isn't just learning how to celebrate when God comes through 756 00:47:42,000 --> 00:47:45,940 Speaker 1: the way we hoped he would. Faith is also learning 757 00:47:46,040 --> 00:47:49,500 Speaker 1: how to keep trusting God when the answer isn't what 758 00:47:49,520 --> 00:47:53,859 Speaker 1: we prayed for. And as always, remember, God gave you 759 00:47:53,960 --> 00:47:58,660 Speaker 1: your kids, your specific kids, for a reason. That's because 760 00:47:58,860 --> 00:48:02,890 Speaker 1: you hold the key. to unlocking who God created them 761 00:48:02,969 --> 00:48:13,370 Speaker 1: to be. We'll see you next time. Christian Parent Crazy 762 00:48:13,410 --> 00:48:16,370 Speaker 1: World is a production of Life Audio and Salem Media. 763 00:48:16,950 --> 00:48:18,930 Speaker 1: If you liked what you heard today, please take a 764 00:48:18,969 --> 00:48:21,950 Speaker 1: second to rate and review this podcast in your favorite 765 00:48:21,969 --> 00:48:24,989 Speaker 1: podcast app so that more listeners like you can find 766 00:48:25,010 --> 00:48:30,299 Speaker 1: the show. For more faith-filled, inspirational podcasts, visit us at lifeaudio.com.