I remember when I was in fervent prayer about one year ago in my bedroom of the Miyazaki prefecture of Japan and the Spirit of God gave me these clear instructions:

“Pray for them.”

I thought these instructions were silly as I was seeking God for how to best handle a conflict I got into with friends I knew from a different stage of life. I did what the Spirit of God told me to do. I prayed for them. Fervently. Constantly. Without ceasing. Doing the best that I knew how to mend the relationships among this circle of close friends I knew. ~”Pray without ceasing.”~1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV~

One year after the conflict, I sensed that God was moving me in a different direction. For my best. For my good. For the good of God and His will for my life.~”And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.”~Romans 8:28, KJV~

I sent one of my friends an email a couple of months ago in order to make amends and express how I believed that she and the other friends offended me. I told her in the email, as the Spirit of God led me, that I forgave her and all of them for everything and laid what I did to offend them as well as their offenses at the foot of the cross (In other words, I forgave myself as I asked God to forgive me for my offenses). I even went as far as to tell her, “I love you,” because that was how much I cared for her and this group of friends.

Little did I know, in that moment, that God was teaching me a lesson: That not all friends are meant to stay in your life for life. Some friends are only meant to stay in your life for a season. There is a time and a place for friends and seasons, under the heaven. ~”There is a time for everything, and a season for ever activity under the heavens.”~Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV~

The friends I knew from college may have offended me, yes. They may have offended God, yes. This may have angered me and God, yes. But, in the midst of this crisis, God was trying to teach me something that I was not yielding to. It was in this moment that I had to be still and trust God that He had a better plan for my life. I had to say, “Yes,” to His will and, “No,” to my will. ~”He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”~Psalm 46:10, NIV~

And that is definitely true. God had a better plan for my life. I am going to Togo, a country in Africa, for full-time missions (2 years) at the end of 2018 for orphan care. I am growing in the spiritual gift of prophecy, which is allowing me to be elevated quickly for the Kingdom of God. My friends from my church have been very supportive of my endeavors, even as I get well and heal. I am slowly mending ties with my family.

So, as you can see, dear reader, I am dealing with A LOT right now. This is what God was trying to teach me: That He walked with me, side by side, into this new stage of life.

I have prayed, and prayed, and prayed for my friends from college. It was then that I had a decision to make.

On my way home from work yesterday, the Holy Spirit of God led me back to the email I sent to my friend. I looked at it from my cellphone. I felt a coldness inside of my heart that numbed my emotions and felt me tugging away from Father God.

It was then that I recognized this fact: that being with this circle of friends from college was not going to help me because they were not a part of God’s will for my life. This was an astounding revelation to me, but brought me all peace as the joy of God filled my heart along with a sound mind. ~”And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”~Philippians 4:7, ESV~

God is good! 🙂

I texted my friend from church yesterday and told her what I was feeling that the Spirit of God was convicting me of. I told her that I am not responsible for the actions of my friends even though one of them chose to not respond to the email and that in and of itself is freeing as the Holy Spirit of God freed me with this truth. ~”And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”~John 8:32, KJV~

I also told her that I rebuked all negative thoughts of these friends and what they could be saying or thinking of me since what they say does not determine my identity in Christ. I am officially in the next stage of life, praise God!

Words are words that are fleeting, but the Word of God stands forever.

My friend texted me back, thinking that this was wonderful news! She was encouraged by my courage and strength to move on regardless of the opposition of my feelings. I was encouraged too since this was unexpected for me, but that is how God works. He always works things out in His timing and His timing is the best and most rewarding part of it all because it provides peace that surpasses my understanding of what I thought was and now is. ~He hath made everything beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.”~Ecclesiastes 3:11, KJV~

And now I have let ALL of my friends go. Yes. Every single one of them. Officially. From my hands into the palms of Father God. My mind, heart, body, soul, and spirit are free. I am forgiven and free, in Jesus’ Name, and can officially strive forward in peace. No more worries. No more negativity. Those things do not belong to Sarah Alexandra Dickens.

I praise God for the life I have now. For my job as news editor for Atlanta Christian Voice and for my other job as a call center agent. I praise God for my church family at First Baptist Church of Atlanta, for being supportive of me and the decisions that I make. I praise God that He is healing me from the inside and out, even with my mental and physical health. Even as I have released these friends into the hands of Father God, I know I am forgiven. I know I am free. I do not need someone to tell me this when Father God reminds me of this truth constantly. It is the truth and I praise Father God for it.

I now want to pray for anyone, who entering into a new stage of life. Join me, dear reader. 🙂 :

Dear God,

Thank You that this reader took the time to open up this blog post. Thank You that he or she can admire this major accomplishment that Your Spirit gave me the power to do as You gave me the strength to move forward from the past. The past does not define me because only my identity in You is what matters the most. I want to pray for each reader today and that as he or she is moving into that next stage of life that he or she will let go of anything that may be holding him or her back from moving forward. Allow each reader to let go of any sin that he or she may be holding onto as baggage that is hindering him or her from moving forward. I speak supernatural strength and life into each reader today as he or she takes the necessary steps needed to let go of negativity, negative thoughts, negative people, and negative environment around him or her. May each reader enter into Your peace and Your understanding so that he or she can be enter into You and be filled with Your Spirit today. Bless each reader today. I give you all of the glory, the honor, and the praise.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen!

God bless you, dear reader! Go in peace and rest in Abba Father today! ❤

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Today, I went on a prayer walk. It was rejuvenating as I got to experience the joy of the Lord. Here is a prayer that I was inspired to write for you, dear reader, from the prayer walk:

Jehovah,

Thank You that You are I AM. Thank You that You are Elohim. Thank You that You are a God of peace and that nothing can separate anyone from the love of Your Son, Jesus Christ. It may not matter to those of the world what Your sons or daughters are going through, but even as they pass through the waters and withstand the tests, trials, and tribulations of this life, You are always with Your children, even as they walk in this world. Your children matter to You, regardless of what they are going through, because You are a God of great love and Your love is refining as it defines the character of who Your children are in Christ Jesus. I pray for every reader, who is reading this blog post and that You will  bless him or her this week as he or she enters into Your great love, which is peace, in the name of Jesus Christ. Fill each reader with Your all-surpassing peace in this moment. May each reader go forth in Your peace today, tomorrow, and for the rest of this week. I give You all of the glory, the honor, and the praise.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen!

God bless you! ❤

I believe in healing.

What is this healing, you may ask? It is the healing power that is of Jesus Christ, my personal Lord and Savior.

~”I am the true vine; and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”~John 15:1-4, NIV~

No person is perfect. Even Christians mess up and continue to mess up until God brings that Christian onto His knees to fight that personal sin struggle until it is completely gone for good. This is what makes Jesus the God who He is: He heals all of His children until they are spotless and made new in Him. This is why He was wounded for our transgressions.

~”But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.“~Isaiah 53:5, KJV~

Even I am not perfect. Some of the battles that God allows us to go through are a test. Some are mental. Others are physical. All are spiritual. I am going through a process of deep healing, in Jesus’ Name. With that said, I will end this blog post with a special prayer of inner and outer healing. I invite you, dear reader, to pray for me.

Dear God,

Thank You that You have the power to heal. Thank You that You are healing me, in Jesus’ Name. I trust You as You have chosen me to go through this storm so that I can heal and be an inspiring light to bring others into Your Kingdom and heal too, in Jesus’ Name. Use me as a testimony so that I can bring healing, help, and the hope of Your Son, Jesus Christ, to others around me. Show me Your glory and pull other readers into Your Kingdom today. Do not let the work that You have started in me go unfinished. I pray for others, who have a mental or physical health condition that they are struggling with, and that he or she will come into Your Kingdom today not because of me, but because of the work that You have started in me for Your Kingdom’s sake. Show me Your glory until I am filled with all of You in me. I will get through this battle in Christ who strengthens me. I thank You God, and give You all of the glory, the honor, and the praise.

In Jesus’ Name,

Amen!

God bless you, dear reader. Be filled with the joy of the Lord as Your strength today!❤

   ~”The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”~Psalm 23:1-3, ESV~