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Counseling!

WHAT DID MY LORD GOD SAY TO ME THIS MORNING?

My Daily Conversations With God


BLOG & PODCAST SHIFT ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

The release time for the blog is shifting. As the Holy Spirit shifts me in my prayer, I shift. The blog and podcast will now be coming out between 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. central standard time. Thank you for adjusting and thank you for your continued support.


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The Best Counselor! Fon Strong James

Each morning I wake up and spend time with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. I pray and I hear the still small voice of the Holy Spirit talking to me. I write down what I hear, read my Word (the Bible) and write down what I hear as I am reading or I write down what scriptures really spoke to me…you know like…made me pause or really just touched me in a noticeable way.

I do this every morning. Sunday through Saturday. This morning as I was praying and just worshiping, I thought back over the last 17 months of my life, which is how long I have been committed to serious non-negotiable, daily prayer time. I thought back over all the times where I didn’t talk to ANYONE about anything BUT the Lord. And just like that, it hit me. Holy Spirit is the best counselor EVER! Now we have all had people tell us what they think about our situations or what we should do and some even tell us how we should do it. But one thing I know for sure is that when I come to the Father for a counseling session, I know that it will be righteous. I know that it will be truthful. I know that it will be instructional. And most importantly I know that it will in alignment with the plan and purpose God has for my life. Can you say that about your best friend or your family members, or some random celebrity counselor or coach?

Now I know that God uses His people to tell us things. I am not saying that other people can’t be the messenger. But what I am saying is that before you or I go to anyone else, we should have such a relationship with the Father, where we don’t have to book an appointment or pull out a credit card, because as a believer, Holy Spirit is ALREADY WITH US. And we can talk to Him at any time we want. As the old folks say, His line is never busy. LOL! And I don’t know about yall, but nothing urks my nerves more than when I used to call a friend or family member to talk about my problems and they were busy. LOL. I know. That was selfish of me and don’t point your finger at me because I don’t even call them anymore. Why? Because I have a counseling session every morning during prayer. That time I spend with Holy Spirit sustains me and keeps me going in the right direction.

But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you. John 14:26 AMP

I had a thought this morning. You know how we all love great food and great conversation? Well most people do. If you don’t, just indulge me for a second here. But one thing I love to do is have great food (preferably that I don’t have to cook) and great conversation (preferably the kind that stimulates my mind). The thought hit me this morning…that’s exactly what my prayer time is! Great food and great conversation! The word of God is the food. And my prayer is the conversation with Holy Spirit. And of course it stimulates my whole being! What a standard huh?

As I flipped open my Bible for the Scriptural Surprise, I landed in Romans, chapters 15 and 16. And go figure, as always, it lined up with the first thought I had in prayer about Holy Spirit being the best counselor, except in Romans, it talks more about US as believers being counselors to one another. Now of course, I was like, okay Holy Spirit break this down to me. Welp, you know Holy Spirit said read below the scripture for the study notes for more revelation. And in that reading, I read there are two things we must have in order to counsel one another:

  1. We must be full of goodness and seeking to please the Lord. We can’t lead anyone else to pleasing the Lord if we ourselves aren’t doing that. We can only lead someone where we’re traveling ourselves.

  2. We must be filled with the knowledge of God that comes from Scriptures. Biblical counseling comes from the overflow of the Word of God in us - not from our own opinions.

So y’all that means, you can’t be getting counseling from everybody. They have to meet these two criteria. They must be seeking to please the Lord and they must be filled with the knowledge of God that comes from Scripture. That means they need to be reading their Bible.

All of this comes from Romans 15:14 which says: My brothers and sisters, I myself am convinced about you that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, and able to instruct one another.

Recently, I have been in a few situations where someone solicited my help. They actually said the words “I need counseling” to me! I immediately prayed for Holy Spirit to guide me on what to say to them. I sought the Lord FIRST before I even opened my mouth to them. But I really want us to make sure that before we seeking counseling from anyone, that we look at their life to see if they are seeking to please the Lord. Are they full of goodness? Are they reading the Word of God and actually DOING what it says? Because see, we don’t want to be fooled by Bible Scholars who aren’t Bible Followers (to make it rhyme I would say Follars). LOL!

I read this and it made sooo much sense to me as it relates to me hearing from the Holy Spirit and receiving counseling: Another person’s advice and ideas should only be followed if the advice, counsel or idea is confirmation of something that the Holy Spirit has already told you. It should be confirmation, not information.

There are many plans in a man’s heart, Nevertheless the Lord’s counsel—that will stand. Proverbs 19:21 NKJV

Holy Spirit told me this morning that I am unique and that He has created me specifically for my purpose. He said, “Fon, you play a very important role in my Kingdom agenda. As you seek me and I reveal to you your role, be encouraged that you are well able!”

Be encouraged today to talk to the Counselor, Holy Spirit . Be encouraged today to BE a counselor led by Holy Spirit. Be encouraged today to have the best food and best conversation ever, which is the Word of God and prayer time.

P.S. Be sure to press play above & listen to each episode as I always go deeper on the audio version.

YOUR ASSIGNMENTS

  1. What did the Lord God say to you in your conversation with Him this morning?

  2. What’s your favorite spiritual food (that means scripture?)

    REMINDER: Don’t forget to read the Scriptural Surprise below and see what the Lord says to you about it.


SALVATION PRAYER

If you’re not a believer and have a desire to be, openly confess and declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9). When you pray that prayer out loud, you are saved. Get connected with a good, bible-based church in your community and start having a conversation through prayer with God every day. And let me be the first to welcome you to your new life with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. YAAAAY!!!!! You made the best decision you could ever make! Feel free to email me at info@onassignmentbyGod.com and let me know about your newfound life or if you need prayer for anything.

Check out today’s Scriptural Surprise!

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