Julia Melatis – Author

It’s been over a year since I have posted on this blog. During that time I suffered varying degrees of depression until finally, earlier this year, it began affecting my overall health. After some testing I was sent to a neurologist who attributed nearly every symptom to clinical depression and anxiety disorder. I felt God led me to this particular doctor. I have suffered from depression on and off most of my life and though other doctors tried medicating me, they didn’t do the digging into my symptoms and follow up like this doctor does. Over the past 8 months we have been trying different dosages of the medication and I think we are about there. I am getting my passion back for writing, teaching, and life. Yay God!

God has started a new thing with me recently. As I begin to wake up He sometimes starts speaking to me, it feels kind of like a computer download, and I just have to get up and start writing things down. He has done this in the past, but always while I was praying. But, I guess this is an answer to prayer as I have been trying to get up and spend time in the Word first thing in the morning. I have never been a morning person, even as a baby, so it has always been hard for me to function well in the morning. But, when God wakes you up like this, you are awake!

As I was beginning to wake this morning God spoke to me. He said, “When I speak things happen.” Then all these verses (including the one in the image) began flooding my mind:

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. Genesis 1:3

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

11so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:11

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:1-5

I could hear Him speaking to my heart through all of this and my heart is swelling with anticipation, hope, and joy as I write this! God created the whole universe and everything in it by speaking a Word. He speaks, things happen. Every Word He speaks is truth, for God is holy and it is impossible for him to lie (1 John 2:21, Titus 1:2, Hebrews 6:18).

The verse in the image, Isaiah 43:19, has been popping up a lot this last week in a variety of places. I believe God is saying to me, “It is time! Get moving! I have prepared you to do this. I go before you and prepare the way. Walk in it!”

I do not write to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it and because no lie comes from the truth. 1 John 2:21

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” Isaiah 30:21

Now as I write, having stopped to eat, I get a feeling of doubt come over me. But I take that thought captive in the name of Jesus and replace it with these verses He brought to my mind:

6″Therefore, I remind you to keep ablaze the gift of God that is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment.” 2 Timothy 1:6-7 HCSB

He gave me a glimpse years ago of what He has prepared for me to do. When I look at my own abilities I know this is not possible. But I also know from the work God has already done in me and through me that He equips us for the work He calls us to do. I have already seen Him do things in and through me that I absolutely cannot do in the natural, so why should I have doubts and fears?

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. Philippians 1:6 NLT

Oooh, I just got chills as I read this verse. I have heard and read it so many times, yet reading it in this translation God revealed a wonderful thing to me. The work we do does not stop when we die. The lives we’ve touched are like ripples in a pond moving ever outward from their originating point. We touch someone’s life, then they touch someone and so on. Sometimes we get to see the fruit of that and some fruit we won’t get to see this side of heaven. But whether we get to see it or not, so long as we are following where God leads us, speaking what He tells us to say, and doing what He tells us to do we know without a doubt that fruit will come and there will be a harvest. There are steps to seeing that harvest come. Plowing, planting, watering, tending, and finally harvesting. Very rarely are we there for every step of it. We will harvest where others have sown and watered. We will plant where others will water or harvest.
God uses all the different talents and gifts He places in His children to sow, water, and reap. Our main job is to live our lives in love; faithful and obedient to God and His Word.

This is my prayer:
Lord, where You lead I will follow. Help me to replace any doubts and fears I have with faith and courage to follow You wherever You lead. I remember all the things You have done in my life since I was a youth; the way You have transformed my heart, mind, and life from a frightened, hopeless teen on the verge of suicide to a courageous woman of faith. You gave me Joshua 1:1-9 years ago and it scared me. But over the years You have prepared me to fulfill that purpose and each step has had its own purpose as well. This is a journey we are on together. Lord, help me to always follow You and not my own ways. When opposition comes, help me to discern if it is from You, making a course correction, or the enemy trying to shipwreck me.  Help me to stay in tune with Your voice and Yours alone. Teach me Your ways Lord and lead me every step, every word, every thing my hands do may it all be from You and to Your glory and praise. In Jesus’ powerful, blessed, and holy name I pray and thank You, amen.

I believe this message is not just for me. If you have been doubting God’s plan for you or your ability to be used by God, know that the only thing He requires of us is a willing heart made available for His use. God gives us the inspiration to use our talents, whatever He has placed in us, for His purposes. So, if you are in a similar place, why not pray a prayer like this of your own. Never forget the things has done for you in the past, because it is all preparation for what is yet to come.  David and other Psalmists often recalled God’s past works as a way of building faith, and the faith of others, along with the courage and confidence in each step we take as we keep our eyes on Jesus, on the eternal things, and not on the things of this world.

“Teach me your way, LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.” Psalm 86:11

“The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O LORD, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.” Psalm 138:8 ESV

Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Colossians 3:2

20Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, 21equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Hebrews 13:20-21

“God doesn’t call the equipped, son. God equips the called. And you have been called.” Rick Yancey, The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave, #1)

When we say Yes to Him He puts His super on our natural and great things will happen! God is on His throne yesterday, today and forever! Trust Him and He will do it! When we let fear and doubt keep us from doing what God tells us to do we quench the Spirit’s work.

16Rejoice always, 17pray continually,18give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not quench the Spirit. 20Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21but test them all; hold on to what is good,22reject every kind of evil. 23May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

May the grace, joy, and peace of our Lord Jesus Christ fill you as you seek to fulfill His purpose in your life. ~Julia

Unless otherwise stated all Scriptures are from the New International Version (NIV).