“The woman that I see knows and values God-breathed friendship;
she fights to protect those she loves.”
I wrote a series of posts a few months back (last year, actually) on the first part of this point. Now I want to tackle the last part about fighting to protect those we love. Obviously, I am not talking about fighting in a literal sense. I am referring to a readiness to stand in the gap for our friends and family when the going gets tough.
I was reading the Psalms with my children a few nights ago. We were reading from one of my favorites. You might know it: “Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me. So many are saying, ‘God will never rescue him.’ But You, O Lord, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head high.” (Psalm 3:1-3, NLT)
I am sure that if you know enough people you know at least one person that feels like David felt in that Psalm. Discouragement is a powerful weapon that the enemy uses to derail our potential and undermine our authority in Chirst. If you have ever been seriously discouraged, you know what I am talking about. You also know the value of sisters who come alongside and fight with you until you rise above those rough patches in life.
I pray that we will never be the kind of women who, intentionally or unintentionally, fight against our sisters to discourage them or contain the potential in their lives. May women who emerge from the ranks of Celebration Church be the kind of women who know how to stand fight alongside their friends and family.
Love,
Kerri xo
{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }
“I am referring to a readiness to stand in the gap for our friends and family when the going gets tough.”
I love the phrase, “a readiness”. This encourages me to be willing, prepared, and available. In order to be those things, I must be alert and ready for action, always having the word of God hidden in my heart. I have to get rid of the things that hinder me, slow me down, and hold me back from taking action.
Be ready. The going will get tough one day but we must be determined to not to give up. God shields us all the way through to success!
“I am referring to a readiness to stand in the gap for our friends and family when the going gets tough.”
I love when you said, “a readiness”. This encourages me to be prepared, willing, and available. In order to have those things, I must be alert and ready for action, always having the word of God hidden in my heart. I have to get rid of the things that hinder me, slow me down, and hold me back from taking action.
Be ready. The going will get tough one day but we must be determined to not throw in the towel. God always sees us through to success!
Pastor Kerri,
I just so happened to read that scripture this morning. It really spoke to me as I made sure to underline it not only in my bible, but my husband’s as well. It’s been an honor to be given the chance to stand in the gaps not only for my friends and sisters, but for Will as well.
Thanks for your encouragement.
Gail
I just want to give a shout out to all my sisters in Celebration church who have stood by me in my struggles, my discouragements, my bad days and my good days. Your prayers, your support, your love and your place in my life that I believe God has strategically placed each of one of you has helped me on my journey to where I am today and where He is bringing me. I just want to say thank you, I love you, and this sister will ALWAYS have your back…in prayer and loving support that is
(unless it’s self defense, j/k)
And thank you Kerri for all you do. The wisdom that God has given you to share with others through your messages, your blogs, your kind words, your prayers, your obedience…you are nothing short of amazing and I love you and appreciate you!
Very nice and very timely for me. Thank you for sharing this post.
Hi Kerri,
I just found your blog last night! Yeah! I was watching your hubby Stovall on television and my husband Herbert told me that he was with Stovall at a round table. I love connecting with women in ministry and look forward to reading your blog regularly. We pastor in Oklahoma City and love it! Maybe we will cross paths someday. Best to you and your family,
Tiffany Cooper
Hi to all — thanks for sharing your comments. It’s always great to hear other perspectives and to hear how God is working in each of your lives.
Kerri
That is all so true. Thanks for the encouragement!!!!!!! I suffered with depression and discouragement alot in the past. Thank God for all my sisters who stood in the gap for me. Thru sharing Gods love, encouraging , prayer, and many other gentle reminders of Gods love for me in the midst of chaos and confusion. I thank you ,Pastor Stovall, Merideth, Katie Sullivan, Darren, Karen, Pastor James and Lisa Johnson, Gail and Bill Kilganon, Serena and Rachel and John,Heather Lester, Malinda and so many others at your church who continued to pray for and love me just as I was. You all showed me Gods love thru truth and setting an example of what it means to be a Christ Follower. Thanks again to all of you I am a better person because of your love that you shared with me. I pray God continues to use all of you to bless and bring more people into the Kingdom of God each day. You are true warriors, faithful and honest abiding in Gods love each day.
Love ya dearly,
Carolyn
I just found your blog (took me long enough lol) and have a lot of catching up to do!! This message was timely though as I have friends and family that really need me to stand in the gap for them. I have my own struggles with pain…but in many ways – emotional stress is harder to overcome. These people need emotional healing. They are dealing with things that would be difficult for anyone to handle but I keep telling them to press in…focus on God’s word because we are not made to be strong enough to bear the burdens ourselves – that’s God’s forte and His alone. God does, however, place people in our lives to give us further strength and be a vessel to reinforce God’s amazing unconditional love for us. I am so grateful for the people God has placed in my life and that I found a home at Celebration
Thanks SO MUCH for being such an amazing example of how to be a powerful and inspiring woman of God, Kerri!!! You are cherished.
In Him,
Carol